L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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Alumni

Felix Kantanka
Felix Kantanka

A professional network 12,000 strong

Stay connected and give back to the Wilder School after you graduate.

With more than 10,000 graduates, the Wilder School offers a professional community of colleagues across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Nearly 80 percent of our alumni live in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., providing an extensive network in one of the country’s most exciting regions. It’s easy to stay connected!

Alumni Events Survey

What kinds of alumni events are you interested in? Respond to this survey to help us plan initiatives that will engage our incredible alumni community.

Alumni Events Survey - Google Forms 

Give

There are many ways to give back while supporting tomorrow’s leaders — make a financial gift to the Wilder School, or contact us to discuss mentoring current students, meeting with local graduates or speaking to a class. To learn more, contact Stevan Dozier, director of development, at doziers2@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6205.

Stay connected

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and keep up with Wilder School news. Also, we want to know what you’re doing! Do you have a story to share, a job to post or an opportunity to pass along? Let us know at wilderschool@vcu.edu

Become a Wilder School Alumni Ambassador

The Wilder School Alumni Ambassadors Program volunteers represent the L. Douglas Wilder School at VCU through participation in special events, mentorship and outreach.

Volunteers contribute across three key areas:

SPEAK
-Lead group conversations with students 
-Influence prospective students and participate in speaking engagements and panel discussions
-Provide career insights and support student-to-graduate success pathways 

LEAD
-Share your perspectives and experiences with current and prospective students to grow their understanding of Wilder School programs and resources 
-Build professional networks and community connections among students — past and present 

ENGAGE
-Promote and attend Wilder School and its signature events
-Share Wilder School news, updates and faculty and alumni accomplishments among your professional and social networks
-Provide quotes for branding and promotional materials

Volunteer term of appointment program participation includes fall and spring semesters across one academic year. 

Download the Alumni Ambassadors program overview PDF

Become an Alumni Ambassador today!

Complete the Alumni Ambassadors form 

Meet Rachel Zeeve

Get to know Rachel Zeeve: Fun facts and more

Introducing the Wilder School Alumni Engagement Officer

VCU Alumni has expanded its team with the addition of a new role: the alumni engagement officer. These team members are busy planning and executing dynamic programming for VCU’s colleges and schools, all geared toward boosting alumni involvement and support. 

Rachel Zeeve, alumni engagement officer for the Wilder School, gives us a glimpse into who she is beyond her CV.

What’s the most important item on your bucket list (if you have a bucket list)?

I would love to travel more! Switzerland, Ireland, Japan … not even sure where I would start.

What was your favorite subject in school?

As someone who has always loved writing analytical pieces and engaging in hands-on learning, I am enjoying the capstone course of the M.P.A. program in the Wilder School. I’ll graduate in July.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I am a competitive Olympic weightlifter. I’ve been training for about four years and have competed at the Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio twice and have also competed in meets around Richmond and Northern Virginia.

What’s your favorite way to unwind? 

Going to the gym or spending time with my cat, Nemo.

What’s your favorite local restaurant/food truck/brewery? 

Garnett’s Cafe, Stella’s Grocery and Perly’s are at the top of my list.

What is your top priority for engaging alumni?

My top priority for engaging alumni is to create meaningful opportunities to connect with the VCU community. Alumni have such diverse ranges of experiences and perspectives, and building supportive spaces and networks for them to share those insights is my goal.

Do you have a city or spot Rachel should add to her list of trips to take? Or do you want to learn more about how you can connect with the Wilder School? Email her at zeeverb@vcu.edu.

Felix Sarfo Kantanka Jr

“The location of the Wilder School in downtown Richmond and the quality of the academic program made it a perfect fit for me. Having evening classes gave me the flexibility I needed to pursue my master's while working.”

— Felix Sarfo-Kantanka Jr., M.P.A., 2001, External Affairs Manager, Dominion Energy and former Virginia Deputy Secretary of Administration