Wilder School shines at NASPAA annual conference in Washington, D.C.
The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration has 300 institutional member schools at U.S. and non-U.S. universities that award degrees in public administration, public policy, public affairs, nonprofit, and related fields. NASPAA is the recognized global accreditor of master's degree programs in these fields.
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Hurricane Helene’s mark in North Carolina might endure in unexpected ways, VCU professor says
The landscape – in terms of infrastructure and trust – is shifting, according to Wilder School homeland security/emergency preparedness expert William Pelfrey.
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Is AI the beginning of a fourth industrial revolution?
How will artificial intelligence impact the future? What do recent studies on the potential economic and social effects of AI such as job displacement, skill shifts and worker opportunities portend for the future? What policies can be implemented to mitigate negative impacts, foster worker adaptability and ensure inclusive growth?
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Earning an associate degree has varying value for workers based on demographics, VCU researchers find
The economic returns are higher than just completing some college coursework, but any socially disadvantaged identity undercuts the advantage.
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Congratulations graduates: register for the Wilder School Fall 2024 Commencement
The Wilder School will hold its spring ceremony on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The VCU university-wide commencement will take place on Saturday, December 14 at 10 a.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.
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Alumnus Dre'mon Miller ('15 B.S.) recognized with VCU 10 Under 10 award
VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10 awards program recognizes the noteworthy and distinctive achievements made by alumni who earned their first VCU degree (undergraduate, graduate or professional) within the past 10 years.
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Kamala Harris’ edge over Donald Trump slips slightly as she leads 43% to 37% in Virginia
Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump 43% to 37% in Virginia, according to the latest Commonwealth Poll from VCU’s Wilder School. The gap has narrowed as economic concerns remain the top voter priority (33%). Trump leads Harris among Independents 29% to 16%, with 19% undecided. Voters also favor Trump on handling the economy (42% to 38%), while Harris is more trusted on reproductive rights (49% to 23%). With early voting underway, turnout will be critical.
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CPP Summit Fosters Collaborative Solutions for Virginia State Agency Leaders
State agency leaders recently convened for a summit hosted by VCU’s Wilder School Center for Public Policy. The gathering focused on addressing shared challenges like employee recruitment, leadership transitions, and employee retention. Through structured discussions, participants generated actionable strategies to improve recruitment efforts, streamline leadership transitions, and enhance employee retention across state agencies.
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Wilder Symposium 2024: The fragile state of democracy and the role of leadership
As the nation heads into one of the most pivotal election years in modern history, the Wilder Symposium hosted by the VCU Wilder School on September 17 brought together some of the brightest minds in political analysis to break down what’s really at stake. Governor L. Douglas Wilder, along with analysts Bob Holsworth and Larry Sabato, took a hard look at the shifting political landscape and the critical role of voter engagement.
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Takeaways: Wilder School Lunch and Learn on Virginia’s Eviction Crisis
Our September Wilder School Lunch and Learn tackled the growing crisis of eviction in Virginia, exploring how rising rent costs and informal evictions are threatening housing stability across the state. Featuring insights from housing policy expert Ben Teresa, director of the RVA Eviction Lab, the session delved into the broader impacts of eviction on and called for policy changes, including rent stabilization. Get the overview from our recap or watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel.
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Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump 46% to 36% in Virginia, Cost of living is the top concern for voters (38%) heading into election season
A new poll from the VCU Wilder School reveals Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by 10 points in Virginia as voters prepare for the 2024 election. With the cost of living cited as the top concern by 38% of voters, the poll also highlights a near tie in voter trust over economic leadership between Harris and Trump. Governor L. Douglas Wilder comments on how Harris’s stance on reproductive rights has resonated with voters. Full results and analysis available.
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Wilder School Commonwealth Poll: 75% of Virginians agree history of race should be taught in K-12 schools and a high percentage of Virginians agree VCU President Michael Rao should provide public accounting of money spent on real-estate development
When asked about Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the most common sentiment is that Israel was justified in taking military action in Gaza, but it has now gone too far (39%)
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Project ReConnect to support individuals involved in criminal justice system who have substance use and mental health needs.
With a $2 million federal grant, the VCU-led initiative will support Chesterfield County Jail and community re-entry programs, as well as create student internships.
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Financial aid expert Jill Desjean explains the consequences and challenges of Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) changes
What are the ripple effects of recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program? How are these challenges affecting students, families and educational institutions? Jill Desjean, a senior policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, shared her expertise during a recent Wilder School Lunch and Learn virtual presentation entitled: “FAFSA: Complications and Implications.”
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Challenging philanthropic whiteness: Addressing racial inequities in funding public and nonprofit organizations
A new study by Charity Scott, an assistant professor of public administration at the Wilder School, published in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, reveals how philanthropic practices often perpetuate racial inequities, urging a shift towards more inclusive and equitable funding strategies.
Read more.jpg "Elsie Harper-Anderson is an associate professor of urban and regional planning at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, specializing in minority entrepreneurship and systemic challenges to entrepreneurial growth. Her research has been funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Chicago Urban League.")
A turning point for entrepreneurial diversity: Elsie Harper-Anderson on the impact of the Fearless Fund ruling
Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit temporarily blocked the Fearless Fund from awarding grants to Black women entrepreneurs, sparking debate over race-conscious programs. The ruling significantly impacts corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, with venture capital funding for Black and Latina women dropping below 1%. In this Q&A, Elsie Harper-Anderson discusses the ruling's impacts and strategies for designing resilient programs.
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Former President Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden by 3 points in Virginia, with Biden’s approval level among commonwealth voters at 36%
Cost of living remains the top issue impacting voting, with reproductive rights ranking second. 111 days before Election Day, President Joe Biden trails former President Trump in Virginia 39% to 36%. 36% of voters approve of Biden's job as president.
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Towards a people’s history of landscape: The National Endowment for the Humanities program facilitates Richmond geography as a critical window to the past
Through “understanding history by centering people and communities in place,” a Wilder School-hosted summer program connects higher education scholars to Richmond geography.
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Policy Pathways and VCU Wilder School celebrate students' accomplishments at a Summer Academy capstone showcase
“Policy Pathways’ work connects high school, community college and early college students from all communities and backgrounds to the vital work of public servants. Public service is a bold and noble profession. Policy Pathways uncovers talented future leaders through their outstanding programs, of which we are a proud supporter."
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Wilder Fellows stand out as students, researchers, and policy experts
A longstanding program pairs students with employers around the Richmond region each year including nonprofits, government agencies and businesses.
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Two years after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, inequities in women’s health intensify for the most vulnerable
A recent Wilder School Lunch and Learn virtual presentation highlights the profound consequences of the Dobbs decision, unequal outcomes and potential strategies to address ensuing healthcare challenges.
Read more.jpg "The mission of Policy Pathways is to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities of individuals that desire to excel in policy studies and public administration degree programs and those who seek leadership positions in the public and private sectors.")
Meet Policy Pathways’ 2024 Summer Academy participants
Meet members of the 2024 session of the Summer Academy, co-hosted by Policy Pathways and VCU's Wilder School.
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Policy Pathways and VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs co-sponsor 2024 Summer Academy in Public Policy
The Summer Academy opens with the Public Policy Forum: "Death In Custody: The Implications of Accountability and Transparency for The Criminal Justice System."
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Virginia’s top public service leadership program continues a tradition of excellence and problem-solving
The Virginia Executive Institute, a leadership-building program for state government, welcomes its newest graduates from the Spring 2024 class.
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"Navigating Nervousness" - Wilder School dean addresses racial equity in government at federal webinar
In a recent webinar hosted by Race Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing racial justice, Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden tackled a topic that’s often tiptoed around in government circles: racial equity. The event, part of Race Forward's Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity (FIRE), provided a platform for Gooden to discuss the pervasive nervousness that surrounds racial equity discussions in government settings.
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Discovery Camp establishes bonds – and refines visions – for VCU students who have yet to declare majors
Wilder School director of academic advising Steph Vennetti joins forces with VCU RecWell for an outdoor weekend retreat at Rice Rivers Center for a dozen undergraduates.
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Identifying opportunities to improve immigrants’ lives in the commonwealth
What are the key barriers that limit immigrants’ successful integration in Virginia, and how can they be eliminated? It’s a multifaceted challenge that associate professor Saltanat Liebert, Ph.D., discussed during a virtual Wilder School Lunch and Learn presentation entitled, “Immigrants in Virginia: Opportunities and Challenges.”
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Class of 2024: Sean Sukol’s journey from policy to public service
Growing up in Springfield, Virginia, Sean Sukol never imagined the winding path that would lead him to become a champion of public service and an advocate for education reform. His hard work and persistence have earned him the Wilder School’s Public Administration Outstanding Public Service Award, and on May 12, he was awarded a master’s degree in public administration.
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50 years strong: Master of Urban and Regional planning program builds to the future
The MURP program celebrates 50 years and Plan-Off! student competition envisions community innovation
Read more.jpg "The April edition of our Wilder School Lunch and Learn series, held on April 17, featured L.F. Payne, former U.S. Representative for Virginia and president of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC).")
Building Bridges Beyond Capitol Hill: L.F. Payne on the Ongoing Work of Former Members of Congress
In the April edition of our Wilder School Lunch and Learn series, we got a glimpse of the intricate world of Congressional functionality and bipartisan cooperation with former U.S. Representative L.F. Payne. Payne discussed the complexities of legislative affairs and how the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) fosters collaboration in a deeply divided political arena.
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Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony Celebrates Excellence in Public Service with Keynote Speaker RaJade Berry-James
The 2024 Pi Alpha Alpha Induction Ceremony, held at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, celebrated the achievements of 13 new inductees in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. The event featured a keynote address from NASPAA President RaJade Berry-James, emphasizing the commitment to equity, ethics, and professionalism in public service. Berry-James is also a Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs at the Wilder School.
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Class of 2024: Deja Cooke returned to college to pursue a dream of a career in criminal justice
The Wilder School student has balanced VCU Health roles, a busy course load and community engagement.
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Wilder School Achieves Historic Rankings in 2024 USNWR
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is proud to announce its historic achievements in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report graduate program rankings. For the first time in its history, the school has been recognized as the nation's sixth-leading institution for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to academic excellence and innovation in public affairs.
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Election year: exploring Virginians’ key perspectives through Commonwealth Poll insights
What are key issues for Virginians as we head into a strongly contested election year? This question and many others were addressed by the Wilder School’s own, Robyn McDougle, Ph.D. (M.S.’00, Ph.D.’03), associate dean of research and outreach, associate professor of criminal justice and dual VCU alumna.
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Beyond Penalties: Unpacking the Largest Clery Act Fine and the Path Forward for Campus Safety
In the wake of a landmark $14 million penalty against Liberty University for mishandling sexual assault reports, Christina Mancini, an authority on campus safety and sexual crime policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, discusses the essential elements of transparency, accountability, and a supportive community in fostering campus safety.
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At VCU session, Virginia emergency management leader stresses resiliency and responsibility
Shawn Talmadge, who earned his master’s at VCU, and is current the state coordinator of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and deputy homeland security adviser. cites the value of state agency’s ties to the Wilder School and other partners.
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Alumni Changemaker: Yolanda Macklin Crewe’s Journey in Workforce Development
In Virginia's dynamic interplay of education and workforce development, Yolanda Macklin Crewe, Ph.D., emerges not just as a participant but as a transformative force. With roots that trace back to the vibrant rural community of Emporia, her journey to leading workforce initiatives at the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is a testament to her unwavering commitment to public service and innovative career development.
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Lunch and Learn "Building Resilience Across the Commonwealth of Virginia: It's More Than Just Responding"
Join us for an insightful Wilder School Lunch and Learn session with Shawn Talmadge (M.A.’09), Virginia's state coordinator of emergency management and deputy homeland security adviser, as we delve into strategies for building resilience in the face of increasing disasters. From extreme weather to cyberattacks, learn about the comprehensive approach Virginia employs to prepare and respond effectively.
Read more.jpg "From left to right: David Webber, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness; RaJade Berry-James, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs; Susan Gooden, Ph.D., Dean of the Wilder School; and Michael Rao, Ph.D., President of Virginia Commonwealth University, gather to celebrate the inaugural National/International Recognition Awards (NIRA).")
Wilder School faculty honored with Inaugural NIRA for distinguished contributions
Two Wilder School luminaries, Drs. RaJade Berry-James and David Webber, were celebrated as the first recipients of VCU's National/International Recognition Awards (NIRA) on February 8. Discover how their groundbreaking work in public administration and homeland security is setting national and international benchmarks, and what this prestigious recognition means for the future of public service and security research.
Read more.jpg "Wilder School undergraduates Magdalena Ray, Sarah Jones, Ava Wilde, alongside VCU Health's Carol Olson, graduate student Caroline Wagner, alumni Grace Berigan, and Lindsay Cassada of Chesterfield County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center, unite at the Virginia General Assembly for the Put Victims First Day of Action")
Wilder School students advocate for change at Virginia's Capitol
In an exemplary blend of academic study and real-world application, students from the Wilder School's CRJS316 Victimology and Victimization course recently made their mark at the Virginia General Assembly. Their participation in the Put Victim's First Day of Action was a significant step from theoretical learning into the realm of legislative lobbying for victim rights.
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Wilder School Commonwealth Poll: Over half of Virginians would vote to give every individual the right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions
Majority of Virginians also support increasing penalties for drug dealers, legalizing marijuana and prohibiting parents from having ability to ban a book from a school’s library.
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VCU administration negates Virginians’ voices, maligns Wilder School Commonwealth Poll credibility in conflict of interest over failed VCU Health development deal
This message is a direct response to the damaging and factually inaccurate attacks on the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Commonwealth Poll, published on January 22, 2024. VCU top administrators and VCU News have challenged Virginians’ candid concerns about the failed Clay Street VCU Health real estate deal, the exit of which has thus cost VCU more than $83 million dollars and has the potential to exceed $100 million by the time all fees have been paid.
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92% of those familiar with VCU Health development deal want answers from the VCU Health System board
Earlier this year, it was reported that VCU spent $73 million to back out of a development deal for the building of a new downtown facility with the City of Richmond. Later, it was reported that the financing could be $100 million more than the quoted cost and VCU received nothing for their money.
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Embracing Challenges: The Making of an Aspiring Change-Maker
As the VCU Wilder School community eagerly anticipates the upcoming Fall Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 8, we spotlight a remarkable Fall Class of 2023 member, Jada Whitley. Whitley, set to graduate with dual undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, has been honored with the role of student speaker, representing her class.
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In Focus: Tarnika Edmunds & The Enduring Impact of Dr. Velma Ballard
Meet Tarnika Edmunds, a dedicated Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellow at the VCU Wilder School, who is making strides in housing policy and community development. Edmunds’ inspiring work with HOME of Virginia, guided by the legacy of the late Dr. Velma J. Ballard, demonstrates the power of academic and practical collaboration in fostering societal change. Read more about her journey and the impact of mentorship in shaping future leaders committed to equity and justice.
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Wilder School to colaborate in VCU-lead project to support high-risk youth transitioning out of incarceration
A multidisciplinary team of researchers, including Wilder School Professor Sarah Jane Brubaker, is launching a project to provide supported employment, trauma counseling, peer support and case management for youth and young adults with behavioral health disorders who are transitioning out of a Richmond-area juvenile correctional facility.
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VCU Wilder School's Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn connects equity and outcomes as a ‘pracademic’ – a practitioner-academic
Leading the Wilder School’s Research Institute for Social Equity, she looks to ensure that government services and public encounters embrace the full community.
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2023 Doctoral Lecture: "State of Democracy & Human Rights in Turkey" will feature Wilder School alumnus Ekrem Mus (‘10 PPAD, ‘06 CJ)
Join Wilder School alumnus Ekrem Mus (‘10 PPAD, ‘06 CJ), Cmelikova Visiting International Scholar, University of Richmond Jepson School of Leadership Studies to explore human rights criminal justice and public policy implications in Turkey.
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VIDEO: Wilder School Lunch and Learn "All Eyes on Virginia: Analyzing Election 2023" with Bob Holsworth, Ph.D.
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a virtual Lunch and Learn session illuminating upcoming directions in government. Renowned political scientist Bob Holsworth, Ph.D., analyzes the 2023 Virginia elections and examines implications for the state. The session is moderated by Robyn Diehl McDougle, Ph.D. (M.S.’00, Ph.D.’03), Wilder School associate dean of research and outreach and associate professor.
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Governor L. Douglas Wilder hosts Stanford University students for a key discussion on running successful elections
A delegation of more than 25 Stanford University students and their professor joined the Wilder School as part of a special session of their course, “Inside Modern Campaigns: How Elections are Won and Lost” During the gathering, Governor Wilder shared his expansive experiences about the state of leadership, both local and national, as well as his perspectives and observations of the changes and challenges facing good governance.
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A new VCU-led project will support high-risk youth transitioning out of incarceration
Project Belong will provide mental health, education and vocational support to 75 youth transitioning out of Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center.
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Meet our new Wilder School faculty: Luisa Nazareno Aguiar and Charity Scott
We are proud to announce the newest members of the Wilder School faculty and welcome their expertise and impacts.
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VCU Master of Urban and Regional Studies students’ online story maps highlight the history of Richmond’s Barton Heights and Woodland cemeteries
The project was developed in close partnership with groups of descendants and volunteers associated with the two historic African American cemeteries in Richmond.
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Braving the future of international cybersecurity: expert Christopher Whyte explores new U.S. cyberstrategies and establishing international humanitarian rules for hackers
For the average person, understanding cybersecurity is no easy task. Even for savvy tech professionals, disruptions regularly create unprecedented and often unfathomable scenarios that wreak financial and political havoc. It’s rare that any geopolitical conflicts today are without some cybersecurity implications. Thankfully, the Wilder School has Christopher Whyte on its side to help us make sense of emergent digital threats as well as how to collectively rethink cybersecurity .
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Three Wilder School alumni honored with 10 Under 10 Awards
VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10 awards program recognizes the noteworthy and distinctive achievements made by alumni who earned their first VCU degree (undergraduate, graduate or professional certificate) within the past 10 years. This year, three of the 10 awardees studied at the Wilder School.
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Exploring the Labor Landscape: Analyzing Workforce Challenges with Byran Slater, Virginia Secretary of Labor
What are the workforce trends that will shape the future of the public sector locally and across Virginia? It’s a question Bryan Slater, Virginia Secretary of Labor, tackled during a Wilder School Lunch and Learn virtual presentation. He discussed a spectrum of contemporary workforce challenges, including the mounting challenges filling positions across the Commonwealth of Virginia and solutions to meet current and emerging workforce needs.
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North Korea: What you need to know with Wilder School expert Benjamin Young
From leader Kim Jong Un’s recent visit with Vladimir Putin and rumors of a military alliance with Russia to nuclear weapons development and COVID isolationism, North Korea punches up for its size in international politics. The impacts of this secretive nation are felt across the globe. We spoke with expert Ben Young, assistant professor of homeland security and emergency management at the VCU Wilder School, to explore what we need to know about North Korea.
Read more.jpg "Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James, Senior Associate Dean at the Wilder School of Government, is the 2023-24 president of NASPAA.")
Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James Named President of NASPAA Senior Associate Dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs to Helm Global Accreditor for Public Affairs Programs
Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James, Senior Associate Dean at the Wilder School of Government, is the 2023-24 president of NASPAA. With a 30-year focus on public administration, she champions diversity and inclusion. Her NASPAA vision is to unite academic research with actionable social change. Dr. Berry-James is committed to addressing biases in public affairs education and advancing global public service standards.
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Championing Equity: The 2023 Wilder Symposium Tackles HBCU Funding Disparities
In an era echoing demands for equality, funding disparities between HBCUs and other institutions highlight lingering inequities. Led by L. Douglas Wilder, the Wilder School of Government recently showcased this crucial issue in a significant symposium. Discover insights from a renowned panel spanning academia to politics as they tackle 'HBCUs and the Absence of Support' at the 2023 Wilder Symposium.
Read more.jpg "66th Governor of Virginia, L. Douglas Wilder symbolizes the pinnacle of public service as the first elected African-American in the United States.")
Governor L. Douglas Wilder honored with Defender of Democracy Award by the University of Virginia Center for Politics
Center for Politics Director Larry J. Sabato will present Wilder with the award at a luncheon event at the University of Virginia’s Rotunda Dome Room on Friday, Sept. 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the presentation itself beginning around 12:15 p.m.
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VCU Wilder School Celebrates Three Recipients of the APPAM Equity & Inclusion Fellowship
The Association for Public Policy and Management Analysis (APPAM) has named three representatives from VCU's Wilder School as 2023 Equity & Inclusion Fellowship recipients, who will present at a conference in Atlanta in November.
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DEIA: Lived experiences and the spirit of democracy
What trends are shaping diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs and how can practitioners prepare and plan successful, long-term strategies?
Read more.jpg "Many of us who knew and loved her weren’t able to gather and celebrate her life and legacy. As we approach the third anniversary of her passing, HOME will host a celebration of life to remember Dr. Velma J. Ballard.")
HOME of VA celebrates the life of Wilder School alumna Dr. Velma J. Ballard
Dr. Velma J. Ballard (’15) was a lifelong learner, resilient student, and empathetic, compassionate human being who, like many Wilder students, cared deeply about improving the world around us. She sought to increase equality and equity in myriad spaces, particularly education, the workplace, and housing.
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Empowering tomorrow's leaders: The 2023-24 Wilder Graduate Scholars’ Fellowship Cohort at the Forefront of Public Affairs
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is proud to introduce the accomplished members of the 2023-24 Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellowship Program. This year's cohort brings together 14 inquisitive minds from multifaceted backgrounds and academic programs. Established in 2006, the Wilder Fellowship remains a pivotal bridge in connecting our exceptional master's students with state agencies and nonprofit organizations.
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From Churchill's Heartbeat to Leadership's Pulse: The Journey of Eric Campbell
Eric Campbell stands as a pillar in the Wilder School, merging academic theory with hands-on practice. But his narrative has many dimensions. As Harrisonburg, Va.'s first African-American city manager, his impact radiates from Richmond's Churchill roots to the dynamic streets of Charlotte and Dallas, painting a tale of relentless leadership, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to community enrichment.
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Welcome to the 2023-24 Academic Year!
Dear Wilder School Alumni, Friends and Supporters, Welcome to the 2023-24 academic year! As we step into the Fall semester, we do so full of pride for our numerous achievements and in anticipation of yet another first-class year at the Wilder School.
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VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll: Virginians see inflation and rising cost of living as most important issue facing the state
Virginians also cite concerns about climate change and artificial intelligence.
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VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll shows Virginians favor Youngkin over Biden for president
In a hypothetical political showdown between Virginia Governor Youngkin and President Biden, a new Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University unveils an unexpected preference among Virginians. Youngkin's rising approval, contrasted with a divided sentiment on Biden, portrays a complex picture.
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Higher education expert Peter Blake explores the “perfect storm” facing our nation
How must colleges and universities successfully adapt in a rapidly changing environment? It’s a perpetual challenge that Peter Blake, director of State Council of Higher Education for Virginia confronts as a key player in the commonwealth. During a recent Wilder School Lunch and Learn virtual seminar, Blake explored the uncertain future of higher education and offered strategies and opportunities for transformation.
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A new report by the Wilder School’s Elsie Harper-Anderson highlights the role of local governments in successful entrepreneurial ecosystems
A post-COVID-19 entrepreneurial surge in local governments sparked a RAND Corporation report, co-authored by Wilder School's Elsie Harper-Anderson. Surveying six U.S. cities, the report emphasizes the overlooked role of local governments in nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystems. Highlighting the variable allocation of support based on each city's economic objectives, the study calls for a deeper understanding of local government's influence on entrepreneurship.
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From Chains to Change: Joy Bogese's Transformation from Addiction to Advocacy
Joy Bogese (M.S. '06) found redemption not amidst academic credentials, a thriving career, or middle-class comforts, but inside an unwanted haven: a jail cell. This was the battleground for her transformative victory over drug addiction. Emerging as a symbol of resilience, she's now a peer recovery specialist at Project Recover. Her past, once a source of anguish, now equips her as a formidable agent of change in the fight against addiction and reforming law enforcement attitudes.
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South of the (Virginia) border, VCU alum Keith Rogers Jr., '10 M.P.A., takes the lead as city manager
With two VCU degrees, a decade in Richmond government and a stint in N.Va., Rogers is now leading Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
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VCU orientation leaders like Wilder School student Essence Palmer get lots of questions from new Rams. Here are her answers to some of the most common.
From places to eat to getting around – and even how to make friends – Essense Palmer, a criminal justice and homeland security and emergency preparedness student at the Wilder School offers experiences-based advice for incoming students.
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A house divided: international organized crime expert reveals how the Russian war against Ukraine is transforming the operations of Europe’s largest criminal ecosystem
Nearly a year and half after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warzones, economic sanctions and shifting alliances are creating new long-term trends in local and global law enforcement. As a key hub of weapons, drugs and human trafficking, criminal activity in the region has large implications for Europe.
Read more.jpeg "Class of 2023 HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development Program.")
HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development graduates learn to lead with compassion.
Introducing Dr. Antoinette Allen, Ph.D., the new director of Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and HIGHER Ground Program. Under her guidance, 34 leaders completed the transformative program, emphasizing compassion and growth. With a distinguished career at esteemed institutions like the Federal Executive Institute, IRS Leadership Academy, and FBI, Dr. Allen brings extensive expertise in leadership development.
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“The State House vs. the Greenhouse: Reviewing the Landscape of Energy Policy and Climate Action in Virginia” with Damian Pitt, Ph.D.
Where does energy policy stand in Virginia? What are some leading strategies for advancing equity-focused clean energy? Damian Pitt, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wilder School’s urban and regional studies and planning program, addressed these questions and more during a virtual Lunch and Learn session titled, “The State House vs. the Greenhouse: Reviewing the Landscape of Energy Policy and Climate Action in Virginia” on June 21.
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Keandra Davis: A Guiding Force for Racial Equity in Housing
Keandra Davis, a doctoral student at the Wilder School's public policy and administration program, is leveraging her lived experience and academic insights to enact change in urban policy. Raised in Miami's Liberty City, Davis witnessed stark housing inequities firsthand, kindling a deep-seated resolve that now propels her professional journey. Her work investigates the complex interplay of housing displacement, environmental risks, and emergency management within Miami's public housing sector.
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Dean Susan T. Gooden Honored with Prestigious 2023 Rutledge Social Equity Award for Pioneering Work in Public Administration
Internationally renowned scholar Dr. Susan T. Gooden, Dean and Professor of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), has been honored with the prestigious 2023 Philip J. Rutledge Social Equity Award. This award, bestowed by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), underscores Gooden's commitment of over 20 years to advancing social equity.
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Youth and confessions: Wilder School interrogation expert aids defense in acquitting juvenile suspect of murder
Hayley Cleary, a professor of criminal justice and public policy with a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, focusing on justice system-involved youth, recently served as an expert witness for the defense in the murder case acquittal of Terrell Jones.
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VCU urban planning student helps ‘a very hopeful experiment’ take root in Richmond
With the rollout expanding this fall, Adelaide Alexander says participatory budgeting elevates social awareness and community engagement.
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Virginia leaves Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: What you need to know
With a 4-3 vote from the Air Pollution Control Board, Virginia begins a process to withdraw from a multistate carbon cap-and-trade program, walking back years of greenhouse gas and sustainable energy. We sat down with Damian Pitt, Ph.D., an expert in sustainability-focused energy policy in Virginia and the Atlantic region. Pitt is associate professor of urban planning in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public
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Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs convene to discuss keys to business expansion and wealth building
What is the quickest way to grow wealth for Blacks and Hispanics in Richmond, Virginia?
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Wilder School academic advisor Nicolette Zbell helps navigate students to graduation and beyond
For 14 years, Nicolette Zbell has advised thousands of students at VCU as an academic advisor for VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. She joined the Wilder School four years ago, bringing more than a decade of experience as a VCU advisor. She says the most rewarding part of her job is helping students– but the most challenging part is getting them to her office.
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VIDEO: Exploring the future of campus policing With the VCU police chief John Venuti
What is the role of the VCU Police Department in promoting campus and community support for all? It's a key question VCU chief of police John Venuti explored during a recent Wilder School Lunch and Learn presentation.
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Alumni Changemaker: Najmah Thomas, Ph.D., merges history, equity and policy
For Najmah Thomas, Ph.D. (PPA ’11), the intersection of history, equity and policy has always been at the forefront of her career in public service, policy program evaluation and academia. With over two decades of experience in government and beyond, Thomas is forging a path for future generations of practitioners.
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Virginia Executive Institute Class of Spring 2023 celebrates with workforce development presentations
The Spring 2023 Class of the Virginia Executive Institute (VEI) celebrated their program completion by gathering to present group project findings. VEI provides a dynamic forum for leaders to collaborate across a network of state executives committed to developing their leadership strengths and becoming change agents for Virginia's future.
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Unequal Distribution of Pharmacies in Virginia Leaves Vulnerable Populations at Risk, Study Shows
A recent study by Ivan Suen and Jimmy Chen, both professors of urban and regional planning at Virginia Commonwealth University's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, reveals compelling evidence of the unequal distribution of pharmacies in Virginia, which disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations.
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Brie Haupt: The federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 ended. What does that mean?
While most might not notice any changes, VCU experts say people who face social and economic inequities may feel the effects of pandemic for some time.
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2023 Spring Commencement Recap
On Saturday, the Wilder School welcomed more than 250 graduates to our alumni ranks of 12,000 and counting. Governor Wilder delivered the keynote speech which prompted graduates with the charge to take on leadership for the public good, no matter their professional roles. Undergraduate Abby Houchin and graduate student Alexia Brown delivered riveting speeches to their classmates.
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Celebrating a career of public service: Laurin L. Henry, Ph.D., professor emeritus, approaches 102nd birthday
Laurin L. Henry, Ph.D., turns 102 on May 23. He was the first dean of VCU's School of Community Services (now the Wilder School) and served as the president of NASPAA. Last month, Henry recounted his legacy of passion, dedication and service to administrators from NASPAA and the VCU Wilder School.
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Plan Off! 2023: Congratulations to our urban and regional planning graduate students
The Plan Off! 2023 competition was a huge success and celebration for students, faculty, alumni and friends to gather in support of urban planning. Each year, MURP students compete for a prize by pitching their solution to a real-world planning, public policy or management problem before a panel of expert judges. Students each receive five minutes to present their plans, which advance through a series of rounds until a champion is named.
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Wilder School criminal justice faculty Brad Lehmann selected for the 2023 Oxford University Summer Research Institute
While at Oxford, Dr. Lehmann will be designated as a Visiting Fellow of Harris Manchester College and intends to utilize the Bodleian Law Library for its unique insight for criminal justice and the law to access the materials that are not readily available to scholarship in the United States
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn - Community-Engaged Policing: A Discussion with VCU Chief of Police
In this virtual session, John Venuti, VCU police chief and associate vice president for public safety, will discuss how policing has changed since 2020 in the wake of the George Floyd murder. He will also dissect the significant differences between municipal law enforcement and campus law enforcement as well as discuss a model for the future of policing, “Policing with a Purpose.” The session will be moderated by Chernoh Wurie, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice.
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Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D., establishes landmark endowed scholarship to unlock the potential of the next generation of leaders
Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D. (B.A.’05;M.S.’08; Cert’09) is building a lasting legacy in Richmond and beyond through her tireless commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion. Inspired by her family’s past, she’s expanding critical learning opportunities for future generations through the new Dr. Sesha Joi Moon Endowed Scholarship.
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Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program: Laila Barnes unlocks future career opportunities
For Laila Barnes, pivoting to a new field of study allowed her to bring her career aspirations into view. The Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program offered her an experiential learning opportunity to help build a foundation for her future success. This internship program allowed Barnes to spend the semester with Minority Leader Delegate Don Scott’s office.
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Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program: Edvard Evans gains an inside perspective on Virginia government
This spring semester internship allows students to combine classroom experience with hands-on service in the office of Virginia State Legislature House Delegate or Senator during the General Assembly, and Evans was able to gain an inside perspective on the inner workings of state government.
Read more.JPG "Administrator Criswell shared her career journey and experiences leading FEMA. She first joined the emergency management field as a firefighter.")
Wilder School hosts FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell for fireside chat
Senior FEMA leadership delegation visited the Wilder School to share emergency management and preparedness career opportunities
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Support an endowed scholarship in honor of VCU alum Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D.
VCU alumna Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D., and her family members have established the Dr. Sesha Joi Moon Endowed Scholarship to support undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of African American studies, government, and public affairs. Moon, who serves as chief diversity officer at the U.S. House of Representatives and was one of the first graduates of VCU's Department of African American Studies, credits the university with launching her career.
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Raising a voice for others to thrive: remembering Michael La’Mont Perkins, Esq.
Michael La’Mont Perkins, Esq., Wilder School alumnus and dedicated public servant, built a life committed to education, mentorship and advocacy. As a young, African-American professional, Michael led a life dedicated to family, faith, leadership, and service using his voice as a tool to impact the lives of those around him forever.
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Understanding Cyber Warfare: An Interview with Author and Cybersecurity Expert, Christopher Whyte
Christopher Whyte, an assistant professor of homeland security and emergency preparedness at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, is the co-author of two recent books: "Understanding Cyber Warfare: Politics, Policy and Strategy” and "Information in War: Military Innovation, Battle Networks, and the Future of Artificial Intelligence.” We sat down with Whyte to discuss the second edition of UCW and the current state of cybersecurity.
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Wilder School doctoral student Amidu Kalokoh awarded highly competitive scholarship for public administration, public policy and public affairs
Amidu Kalokoh, a doctoral student in Public Policy and Administration at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, is the recipient of the 2023 Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Summer Program Scholarship in Quantitative Methods.
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Wilder School receives top national accolades in U.S. News and World Report graduate program rankings
U.S. News & World Report ranks our school’s public affairs program at No. 39, which places us in the top 15% of more than 250 schools across the United States, as well as top-50 rankings in four program specialty areas.
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The RVA Eviction Lab shines a spotlight on Virginia’s high eviction rate
The Wilder School’s RVA Eviction Lab has partnered with the University of Virginia’s Equity Center to provide data on landlords with high eviction court filings. Together, they created the Virginia Evictors Catalog, a database that catalogs property owner plaintiffs who have filed tenant evictions across Virginia. The goal is to use the data to learn how best to redress unjust eviction processes in the commonwealth.
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Wilder School in Action: Governor's Voice
66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder joins us for a Q&A to share his perspectives on the Wilder School Commonwealth Poll, a longtime bellwether and trusted source for public opinion in Virginia
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Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program: Sofhia Pineda Garay explores legislation in action
The Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program represents a unique opportunity for students to gain direct experience in the policy process. This spring semester internship program allows students to play an integral support role in the office of a Virginia State Legislature House Delegate or Senator during the General Assembly. For Sofhia Pineda Garay, a passion for social equity and social justice reform led her to apply.
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Class of 2023: Davina Efetie steps outside of her major in style
With a summer internship linked to Vogue magazine, criminal justice major has designs on following her passion for fashion.
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Wilder School faculty, students recognized with end-of-year awards
With the closing of another academic year imminent, VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs recognized many of its exemplary students, faculty, and staff at annual year-end awards ceremonies held in April.
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Class of 2023: With a mind on crime, Olive Blackstone pursues justice and understanding
Blackstone has explored criminal justice and psychology at VCU, both in and out of the classroom.
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Ukrainian delegation visits with VCU experts and others as part of effort to eliminate the threat of land mines
National security experts from a country at war meet with faculty and other leaders to learn and share insights.
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Wilder School in Action: Bringing equity to emergency management and disaster response
As natural disasters intensify in the U.S. due to climate change, many studies reveal that responses from federal, state, local, private and nonprofit agencies result in widely different outcomes for vulnerable, historically marginalized populations. These shortcomings dramatically affect their safety before and during a disaster, as well as their ability to financially recover in the aftermath.
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2023 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards celebrates record-setting event
Four outstanding public servants and three innovative organizations were honored during the 16th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards (EVGA) held on April 11, 2023, by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, who created the awards in 2004, remarked on the importance of recognizing excellent achievements.
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Richmond has declared a housing crisis. What does this mean for renters in the region?
Kathryn Howell, Ph.D., and Benjamin Teresa, Ph.D., study housing instability in Richmond and the region. They are associate professors of urban and regional studies and planning at Virginia Commonwealth University, and they co-direct the RVA Eviction Lab in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
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VCU alum Mo Alie-Cox will serve as university’s May universitywide commencement speaker
Alie-Cox, a former standout on the Rams men’s basketball team, has enjoyed a career in the NFL as a pass-catching tight end.
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Wilder School graduate student Amie Fuller wins top honors at NASPAA’s 2023 Wildfire Simulation Competition
Wilder School graduate student Amie Fuller represented the homeland security and emergency preparedness program (HSEP) during the 2023 Wildfire Simulation Competition. The event was held on March 4 at James Madison University by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). Fuller’s team, which included five teammates from different universities, won first place. The win advances the team to the international competition.
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Connecting equity and sustainability: Damian Pitt drives research to advance the long-term future of energy policy
Damian Pitt, Ph.D., an associate professor in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, is committed to transforming the future of renewable energy and energy efficiency by informing policymaking through scholarly research.
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L. Douglas Wilder School brings diverse range of expertise to 2023 ASPA Annual Conference
The Wilder School brought together a group of nearly 20 presenters to share their expertise at the recent 2023 American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference.
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Alumni Changemaker: Nancy Toscano builds on career marked by dedication to vulnerable families and children
As CEO of UMFS, Ph.D. alumna Nancy Toscano ('15 PPA) builds on career marked by dedication to vulnerable families and children.
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British Ambassador to the U.S. selects the Wilder School for diplomacy tour
Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, British Ambassador to the United States of America, recently joined Wilder School students for an insightful discussion exploring US/UK relations, the challenges of global diplomacy and her extensive international career ranging from the United Nations to Afghanistan, and beyond.
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VIDEO: Melissa Assalone explores trends in rising food prices
During a recent Wilder School Lunch and Learn virtual presentation, Melissa Assalone, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the Virginia Food Industry Association and serves as the organization’s primary lobbyist at the General Assembly, shared key factors contributing to rising food prices in Virginia and across the country.
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Alumni Changemaker: Amy Atkinson serves the commonwealth's youth and families
Amy Atkinson’s (MPA ’00) career in public service began with embracing “open doors” that led her to unexpected professional opportunities. Now the executive director of the Virginia Commission on Youth, she has served in state government for nearly three decades and remains committed to opening doors for others.
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Democracy and Diplomacy: Cultivating Our Future
Join Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, British Ambassador to the United States of America for an insightful discussion exploring US/UK relations, the challenges of global diplomacy and her extensive international career ranging from the United Nations to Afghanistan, and beyond. The event will feature Her Excellency Dame Karen Pierce DCMG and fellow British diplomats Paul Rennie and Phil Dickinson.
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Out of the Past: Sisters Enjoli and Sesha Joi Moon are using their nonprofit, the JXN Project, to explore the lost grandeur of Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood
Sisters Enjoli and Sesha Joi Moon are using their nonprofit, the JXN Project, to explore the lost grandeur of Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood
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Wilder School insights explore racial equity implications of COVID-19 during a national conversation on pandemic response
The National Academy of Public Administration recently hosted a panel discussion which explored the geopolitical tensions caused by COVID-19 and showcased how countries learn from one another when dealing with "local" impacts of common global challenges.
Read more.JPG "Governor Wilder met with Richard Price and Virginia University Union alumni.")
Gov. Wilder joins Virginia University Union Chapel to share leadership experiences
66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder recently joined Virginia Union University dean of the Chapel and minister Richard Price for a lecture. Gov. Wilder spoke about leadership and shared some key moments from his life that helped grow his approach to pushing boundaries to achieve the impossible.
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Available now: “Triple Pandemic” book showcases the breadth of Wilder School research
Published by Routledge, the book represents a collaborative research undertaking that includes contributions from 16 Wilder School faculty, three alumni and three Ph.D. students.
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Future-Focused: Amy Clifton-Mills takes an innovative approach to criminal justice research
For Amy Clifton-Mills (M.S. ’19), pursuing criminal justice was an obvious choice. Raised on “Law & Order” and “CSI,” Clifton-Mills’ curiosity and self-proclaimed “nosiness” grew into a passion for social sciences. Now a student in the Wilder School public policy and administration Ph.D. program with a concentration in criminal justice policy, she’s putting a childhood dream into action.
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn - "Representation in the 118th Congress: Intersections with Public Administration" with Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D.
"Representation in the 118th Congress: Intersections with Public Administration" with Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D.
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Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU announces recipients of 16th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards
Seven recipients will be honored at a luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. on April 11 at the Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad St. A 30-minute television program about this year’s recipients will air on WTVR-CBS6 in Richmond at 7:30 p.m. on April 13.
Read more.jpg "Cydney Lowenstein (B.S. ’10, M.S. ’13, Ph.D. ’20), became a member of the Wilder School community when she began her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2006. Three Wilder School degrees later, she's now a research support specialist with the Wilder School Survey and Evaluation Research Lab.")
Wilder School triple graduate Cydney Lowenstein brings data analysis expertise to the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory
Cydney Lowenstein (B.S. ’10, M.S. ’13, Ph.D. ’20), became a member of the Wilder School community when she began her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2006. Three Wilder School degrees later, she quickly advanced to a position as research support specialist where she continues to demonstrate her broad range of expertise today as part of the Wilder School’s Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory.
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Bob Holsworth explores recent election trends and looks to the future of politics in Virginia and nationally
Holsworth analyzes the 2022 election results and examines implications for the 2023 General Assembly races in Virginia and national contest
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VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll reveals half of Virginians approve of President Biden’s handling of his job
Poll respondents also favor Biden’s student loan forgiveness proposal by a small margin.
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Long live the “Son of Virginia”: 66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder turns 92
Gov. L. Douglas Wilder celebrates his 92nd birthday on Jan. 17
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Walking in urban green spaces is better for us than walking in gray spaces says Wilder School research
Adjunct professor of urban and regional planning Jeremy Hoffman describes how we can get more out of our city walks — and how cities can be designed to reduce stress and improve health.
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn - Elections: 2022 and Beyond with Bob Holsworth, Ph.D.
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs to kick off 2023 with a virtual Lunch and Learn session that will illuminate future directions in government. Renowned political scientist Bob Holsworth, Ph.D., will analyze the 2022 election results and examine the implications for the 2023 General Assembly races in Virginia and the national contests in 2024.
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Wilder School Commonwealth Poll reveals Gov. Youngkin’s approval rating, Virginians’ declining perceptions on the value of a college education
53% of those polled support governor’s involvement in issues of education, crime and inflation.
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VCU Wilder School events: a year of critical discussions and dialogues
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs offers experiential learning opportunities to engage the VCU community through symposia, lectures and the expert-led Wilder Lunch and Learn series. Here are some of the intriguing conversations of 2022: (click on the links in bold to learn more)
Read more.jpg "Eva McDonnell explores the")
VCU Wilder School students: A year in review of these "future-focused" young minds
VCU Wilder School students show compassion for others through advocacy for urban planning and environmental advocacy; finding solutions to the effects of climate change and building relationships within their diverse communities. Here’s a look at some of our top stories from 2022 which showcase how students are working to make an impact (click on the links in bold to learn more).
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Wilder School alumni profiles: A changemakers’ year in review
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth is ranked No. 35 in the nation among public affairs graduate schools and No. 1 in Virginia. Our alumni (10,000 strong) open doors to the Wilder School network at Fortune 500 companies, local governments, advocacy groups and public interest firms. Our graduates go on to amazing things and we’re proud to share their accomplishments. Here are our top alumni stories of 2022: (click on the links in bold to learn
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Wilder School faculty and research profiles: A year in review
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs has a dedicated cadre of world-class faculty who are renowned for their expertise and committed to research which has a global impact. Beyond academia, these researchers are further engaged in developing community-driven solutions to transform our world.
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Wilder School Alumni Changemaker: Leander “Lee” Pambid grows communities through intentional planning
As director of community development for the Town of Farmville, Va., Lee Pambid oversees a wide variety of projects to help the area thrive. A dedicated public servant, Pambid’s career in local government spans 23 years.
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Water systems research receives Wilder School Faculty Small Grant
Shruti Syal will use a Wilder School Faculty Small Grant to expand water access and equity in Delhi, India
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Urban redevelopment researchers receive Wilder School Faculty Small Grant
Associate Professors Meghan Gough and Kathryn Howell aim to examine racial inequity in the urban planning of southern cities and seek opportunities for reparative approaches.
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Alumni Changemaker: D. Pulane Lucas, Ph.D. paves the way for future policy leaders with Policy Pathways, Inc.
D. Pulane Lucas’ (Ph.D.’13, Cert.’18) career began in the fourth grade. A newspaper article sparked a passion for the policy world, and she is now an established trailblazer in the field. As the founding president and CEO of Policy Pathways, Inc., a nonprofit that offers educational programs to young people with an interest in policy-related studies, Lucas is fostering that same passion in the minds of burgeoning leaders in Richmond and beyond.
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Future-focused: Undergraduate Evan Hirsh selected as Wilder School Fall 2022 Commencement speaker
Early on, Evan Hirsh knew he was cut out for a career in public service. Now concluding his final semester at the Wilder School, Hirsh’s plans are coming to fruition — but not in the way he initially imagined.
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Housing very- and extremely low-income individuals and families with Calvin C. Johnson
In this presentation, Calvin C. Johnson, Ph.D., described patterns of worst-case housing needs, sharing why HUD’s major rental assistance programs are a safety net for only a fraction of extremely- and very low-income renters. He highlighted patterns of homelessness that are inextricably tied to worst-case housing needs.
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Wilder School dozen to attend and present at 2022 APPAM
A dozen Wilder School faculty, staff, students and alumni will gather to present their scholarship at the 2022 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Fall Research Conference in Washington D.C., Nov. 17-19. A perennial favorite for those in the field, APPAM, brings together public policy scholars, students and research institutes to share their insights on a wide variety of current and emerging policy and management issues
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Virginia youth from areas with high rates of crime and economic disadvantage are at the highest risk of recidivism, VCU study finds
The study by Wilder School researchers provides data that can inform policies to reduce youth recidivism across Virginia.
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Wilder School November Lunch and Learn: “Housing Very and Extremely Low-Income Individuals and Families”
Calvin C. Johnson, Ph.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation and Monitoring, Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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Scholar CJ Howard sees Richmond as an unparalleled model for racial reconciliation
Christopher ‘CJ’ Howard, one of the nation’s foremost architects and opinion leaders on reclaiming racially-charged statues, memorials, and heritage buildings, delivered the 2022 Morton B. Gulak Lecture in Urban and Regional Planning on Oct. 27.
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Two Wilder School alumni recognized with VCU 10 under 10 awards
VCU Alumni’s 10 Under 10 awards program recognizes the noteworthy and distinctive achievements made by alumni who earned their first VCU degree (undergraduate, graduate or professional) within the past 10 years. This year, two Wilder School alumni were recognized as honorees during an Oct. 29 ceremony.
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Wilder School to host Fall 2022 Graduation
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is pleased to host an in-person ceremony honoring its August and December 2022 graduates on Saturday, December 10. The ceremony, which is an open admission event, will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center located at 403 N 3rd St, Richmond, VA from 1:30 - 3:00 pm EST.
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NASPAA Conference demonstrates Wilder School expertise
For the first time in two years, the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration returned to an in-person conference in Chicago. NASPAA is the globally recognized accreditor of master's degree programs in public policy and administration and is dedicated to providing education and training for public service and promoting the ideals of public service.
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Future-focused: Julia Tracy takes an interdisciplinary approach to environmentalism
Growing up in the small coastal town of Norfolk Virginia, Julia Tracy witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change. Now an undergraduate student in the Wilder School’s urban and regional studies and planning (URP) program, Tracy is taking on these challenges at the intersection of policy, environmental science, and urban planning.
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October Lunch and Learn Recap: "What's a "Major Question?: Changes in U.S. Supreme Court Administrative Law Rulings and Their Impact on the Federal Bureaucracy" with Dr. John Aughenbaugh
What is the major questions doctrine? How might it affect future executive branch policy initiatives? Dr. John Aughenbaugh explored these concepts during an October Lunch and Learn hosted by the VCU Wilder School on Supreme Court administrative law rulings.
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Wilder School's RaJade Berry-James Elected Vice President/President of NASPAA
RaJade Berry James, a professor and senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, has been named the vice president of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). NASPAA is the national and international accrediting body for Master’s degree programs in public administration, public policy, and public affairs.
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John Moeser, ‘advocate for a more just society’ and VCU urban studies trailblazer, dies at 79
Moeser was a founding member of VCU’s Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program and the co-author of an influential book that revealed how Richmond’s planning policies placed Black residents at a disadvantage based on race.
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Alumni Changemaker: Myra Goodman Smith
For Myra Goodman Smith (B.S.,’82, M.P.A., ’84), public service is her life’s work. From her days as a volunteer candy striper at MCV hospital at the age of fourteen to her current position as President and CEO of Leadership Metro Richmond, Smith has made a name for herself through her unwavering commitment to helping others.
Read more.jpg "The Equity Summit saw a strong Wilder School presence. From left to right: Blue Wooldridge, RaJade Berry-James, Anthony Starke, alumna Sesha Joi-Moon ('08 MS), Susan Gooden, Elizabeth Harden, Sophie Webb, Keandra Davis and Sombo Muzata.")
Equity Summit Launches Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration
More than 70 social equity scholars from across the globe gathered in Charlottesville, Va. at the Morven Farm for the 2022 Equity Summit. The summit was organized to bring social equity experts together for collaboration and officially launch the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration. JSEPA seeks to become a collaborative voice that combines equity research and practice in public policy.
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Future-focused: Melani Monje Riberth gains hands-on experience through Summer Jailor Academy
Undergraduate criminal justice student Melani Monje Riberth put her security, defense, administrative, investigative and forensic skills to the test at the 10th Basic Summer Jailor Academy.
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Boots on the ground: Chernoh Wurie adds Army National Guard to a growing list of professional experiences
Assistant Professor Chernoh Wurie joins Army National Guard
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn "What's a "Major Question?: Changes in U.S. Supreme Court Administrative Law Rulings and Their Impact on the Federal Bureaucracy"
In recent U.S. Supreme Court terms, the Court has used the major questions doctrine to invalidate executive branch policy initiatives. In this month's Lunch and Learn, Dr. John Aughenbaugh from VCU's Political Science Department will discuss what the major questions doctrine is and how the doctrine might impact federal government executive branch policy initiatives in the future.
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Oct. 5: 2022 Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series: Professional Development for Early Career Researchers
Join Anbu Arumugan, Senior Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the Government Arts College in Chennai, India, for a discussion of research in the international context.
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Wilder School Lunch and Lunch explores school safety
How can schools more effectively respond to mass shootings and firearm violence? What does it take to successfully plan and implement programs to prepare and train teachers, administrators and students? These are questions Donna Michaelis answered during a discussion on best practices to plan for and respond to emergencies in Commonwealth schools. She shared a Virginia-based public safety model that can be adopted nationwide.
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2022 Wilder Symposium recap - "‘I had no choice’ but to help them"
L. Douglas Wilder spoke about his work as an attorney representing the family of Bruce Tucker, whose heart was transplanted without his or his family’s knowledge or consent at the Medical College of Virginia in 1968.
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Future-focused: Eric King envisions environmental equity
An urban and regional planning graduate student at the Wilder School, Eric King is pursuing a career in building climate resilience from the ground up at the local level by tackling issues such as flood prevention and rising temperatures in urban areas.
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2022 NASPAA Wilder School presentations
Wilder School faculty and staff—including Wilder School Dean and Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) President Susan Gooden, Ph.D.— will offer nearly a dozen presentations, panels and charrettes during the 2022 NASPAA Conference. The conference is the signature annual event of NASPAA, the preeminent organization of institutions dedicated to public policy and public affairs education, which includes 327 institutional members and universities across the globe.
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Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute team of faculty and staff works with police to develop Whistles Against Street Harassment initiative
Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute team of faculty and staff works with police to develop Whistles Against Street Harassment initiative.
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Future-focused: Gennaro Milo helps set the stage for a safer future
By formulating and analyzing disaster prevention measures and strategies Milo is helping assist communities and organizations before, during and after emergencies. Ensuring effective and equitable responses requires flexibility when the unthinkable occurs — from natural disasters like earthquakes to terrorist attacks and cybersecurity breaches.
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn "Preparing for School Safety: Virginia as a National Model"
Join Donna Michaelis for a discussion on best practices to plan for and respond to emergencies in Commonwealth schools. She’ll share her expertise and demonstrate a Virginia-based public safety model that can be adopted nationwide.
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Alum Sesha Joi Moon ‘working with purpose and on purpose’ as leader of diversity, equity and inclusion at U.S. Capitol
Moon, a two-time VCU graduate who this summer became the director of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Office of Diversity and Inclusion, encourages students to have ‘equal parts patience and perseverance’ as they embark on their careers.
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Wilder School Alumni Changemaker: Jovan Burton
Housing accessibility has a complicated and storied history in the Richmond region, and it’s a past Jovan Burton (M.P.A.’21) is working to transform. As the executive director of the Partnership for Housing Affordability (PHA), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing affordable housing policies and programs, Burton is a tireless advocate for fostering diverse, equitable and inclusive communities.
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Future-focused: Undergraduate Eva McDonnell pursues lifelong goal of a career in criminal justice
As a senior at VCU pursuing dual majors in criminal justice and psychology as well as an accelerated master’s degree in criminal justice, rising to the challenge to develop her education and understanding has been a key priority for her and her family.
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Alumni spotlight: Meet Joe Damico, M.P.A. ’97, M.P.H. ’00
Discipline and military structure led to a career in public service
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Commonwealth Poll: Virginians disapprove of President Biden but satisfied with status of Virginia’s abortion laws
Biden approval at only 39%, while half of respondents say Virginia’s abortion laws are reasonable.
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Commonwealth Poll: Gov. Youngkin’s approval at 49%; Virginians support tax relief policies, funding for HBCUs and innovation lab schools
Youngkin’s approval is split by party and region, but support for gas tax holiday, ending grocery tax, funding HBCUs and new lab schools is strong across all demographics.
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"Exploring the Resurgence of Rural America" with Basil Gooden
One in five Americans now lives in a small town. An unexpected result of the pandemic has been a steady increase in talent moving to rural areas as people reexamine their values, connections to family and work-life balance. What is next in this resurgence of rural America?
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Wilder School Alumni Changemaker: Steven Keener
Criminal justice scholar Steven Keener shares his passion for the transformational power of education.
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Exploring the impact of Dobbs v. Jackson with Sarah Jane Brubaker
Brubaker, a professor of criminal justice and public policy and administration and director of VCU’s certificate in gender violence intervention at the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, studies sexual and domestic violence, gender violence and reproductive and sexual health in connection with criminal justice and public policy.
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Pelosi names Wilder School Alumna Sesha Joi Moon to House Diversity Office
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced the appointment of Wilder School alumna Sesha Joi Moon as the new director of the House of Representatives Office of Diversity and Inclusion on Monday. Congress established the nonpartisan, independent office Moon will head in 2019 to improve the recruitment, retention and development of a diverse House workforce, to act as a resource for House offices, and to increase awareness of diversity issues among House staff.
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn recap - Rising Costs, Rising Inflation: Making Sense of the Economy
Across the country, Americans are struggling with rising prices and inflation on everyday goods, from gas to groceries. What are the economic factors contributing to this situation and how can we make sense of it? These are topics Katharine Bond, vice-president for public policy and state affairs at Dominion Energy, addressed during a timely discussion on navigating the trends that are shaping our pocketbooks and future plans.
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn “The Resurgence of Rural America” with Basil Gooden
One in five Americans now lives in a small town. An unexpected result of the pandemic has been a steady increase in talent moving to rural areas as people reexamine their values, connections to family and work-life balance. What is next in this resurgence of rural America? Join Basil Gooden, Ph.D., director of State Operations for USDA Rural Development, for a virtual discussion exploring rural America.
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Why do school shootings keep happening in the United States?
Will Pelfrey fields questions to address America's gun violence.
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Research Institute for Social Equity receives $3 million to become thought leader and connector for advancing social justice
The Research Institute for Social Equity in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU, an institute that has contributed to the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia among other efforts, will receive $3 million over the course of two years to continue efforts toward advancing equity to inform public policy, governance and practice to improve conditions for marginalized voices in society.
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Expiration of renters’ protections sparks fear of increased evictions
The RVA Eviction Lab at the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, which analyzes eviction data across Virginia, forecasts an increase in evictions in coming months.
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn recap: “Why No Cyber ‘Shock and Awe’? The Digital Dimensions and Implications of Russia's War on Ukraine”
Russia's war against Ukraine has seen widespread use of digital disruption. Western sanctions have set in motion an unprecedented shift in how Russians will use the Internet. But the "cyber blitzkrieg" expected alongside Russia's invasion of Ukraine never happened. What cybersecurity lessons can we learn from the conflict and what can we expect from Russia in the months and years to come?
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Wilder School Alumni Changemaker: Leah Fremouw
Leah Fremouw (B.A.’08/H&S; M.P.A.’10/GPA) is the inaugural CEO of Bridging Virginia, a financial services institution that drives capital and resources into historically marginalized and underserved business owners in the metropolitan Richmond area. It’s a high-octane, purpose-driven role for the West Virginia native with a large personality and a knack for infusing projects and people with transformational energy.
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Investigating Richmond’s history of displaced communities
VCU urban planning student’s project capturing the voices of African American communities removed from their homes through a 1946 urban planning effort will become a national resource.
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Lunch and Learn June 2022: "Rising Costs, Rising Inflation: Making Sense of the Economy" with Katharine Bond
Across the country, Americans are struggling with rising prices and inflation on everyday goods, from gas to groceries. What are the economic factors contributing to this situation and how can we make sense of it? Join Katharine Bond, vice-president for public policy and state affairs at Dominion Energy, for a timely discussion on navigating the trends that are shaping our pocketbooks and future plans.
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Plan-Off 2022: Wilder School master of urban and regional studies and planning students envision the future of communities
More than a hundred students, faculty and planning professionals came together for the 2022 Plan-Off annual competition for master of urban and regional planning students.
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Class of 2022: Michael Kyrychenko sets his sights on a public service career in criminal justice
As a criminal justice undergraduate student at the VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Michael Kyrychenko is engaged in his community and prepared for success.
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Excellence in Virginia Government Awards honor outstanding public servants of the commonwealth
On Tuesday, April 26, the 15th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards returned in person at the Downtown Richmond Marriott. The L. Douglas Wilder School and VCU leadership proudly celebrated key Virginian public servants who have made noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and the welfare of our communities and citizens.
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Minority Political Leadership Institute 2022 class kicks off at the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU welcomes 27 enrollees for the 2022 class of the Minority Political Leadership Institute (MPLI). MPLI, a collaborative initiative of the Research Institute for Social Equity and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, is an eight-month experience designed to promote leadership development for individuals interested in issues important to minority communities, including community economi
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Wilder School Lunch and Learn May 2022: Why No Cyber "Shock and Awe"? The Digital Dimensions and Implications of Russia's War on Ukraine
Join Wilder School Assistant Professor Christopher Whyte for this discussion on international cybersecurity and cyberwarfare.
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Class of 2022: Whitney Brown excels with dedication to public service and her community
As an M.P.A. graduate student at the VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Brown transforms her passion for social equity into action.
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How a homeland security major ended up contributing to oral health research
Undergraduate Jenifer Nunez broke out of her comfort zone to advocate for Latinx patients.
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Wilder School stands out with recognition at the American Society for Public Administration conference
Three Wilder School faculty members achieved important senior career distinctions by earning prestigious awards at the annual American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Conference held in Jacksonville, Fla. March 18-22. The honorees include: Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden, recipient of the Gwendolyn Bullock-Smith Public Service Award; Blue Wooldridge, recipient of the Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award; and Bill Leighty, recipient of the National Public Service Award.
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Wilder School advances in 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings
The 2023 U.S. News & World Report rankings show the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University rose to No. 35 in the nation among public affairs graduate schools (up from No. 38 in 2022). The Wilder School’s public management and leadership program also climbed to No. 29 (rising from No. 34 in 2022) in the report’s specialty program rankings.
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Reflections on progress in Ukraine with Jay Albanese
Jay Albanese, a leading researcher in international crime, looks back on his experiences visiting Ukraine
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Preparing Virginia for cannabis regulation with Greg Felix
What does it take to compete in the recently legalized cannabis industry in Virginia? What are the best ways to effectively navigate policy concerns and regulations across this uncharted landscape? Understanding the business side of marijuana is no small task. Greg Felix joined the Wilder School Lunch and Learn series to share his expertise in the processes, challenges and legal implications required to successfully launch a new industry in the commonwealth.
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Responding effectively to intimate partner violence
Wilder School researcher Amanda Goodson uses a trauma-informed approach to inform law enforcement response strategies to aid victims.
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Social media provides ‘an instant window into the ravages of war’ in Ukraine
VCU professor Will Pelfrey shares his perspective on social media’s role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Exploring North Korea’s history and evolving threats
‘With its nuclear weapons, cyber operations and missile systems, North Korea’s asymmetric military capabilities should not be underestimated,’ VCU expert says.
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Lunch and Learn - Marijuana, Cannabis, Weed: Is Virginia Ready for Regulation?
What does it take to compete in the recently legalized cannabis industry in Virginia? What are the best ways to effectively navigate policy concerns and regulations across this uncharted landscape?
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Moving Forward Together: The Road to Transportation Equity in RVA with Joe Dillard
What is the role of transit in shaping equity for individuals and communities?
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Wooldridge, Leighty and Gooden honored with ASPA career awards
Three faculty members from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University received national career awards at the annual American Society for Public Administration conference held in Jacksonville, Fl. March 18-22.
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Isom-Payne wins NACADA’s regional advising award
The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), the preeminent global network for academic advising, has named Shajuana Isom-Payne as the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Advocate for Academic Advising Award for Region 2.
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Exploring public service possibilities with GVPA 100: Making Policy Real
A new Wilder School introductory course helps students to explore a wide range of careers
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Nationally-ranked M.P.A. program can now be completed fully online
Wilder School to offer Virginia’s first fully-accredited online program
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Connecting environmental planning to social equity
Wilder School assistant professor Shruti Syal’s goal is to eliminate wastewater from urban ‘slums"
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Wilder School February Lunch & Learn - “Moving Forward Together: The Road to Transportation Equity in RVA”
Wilder School February Lunch & Learn: “Moving Forward Together: The Road to Transportation Equity in RVA”
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Meet Lindsey Evans
When Lindsey Evans learned of the work in social equity that faculty members at VCU were engaged in, she knew that the Wilder School would be a good fit for her.
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Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at the Wilder School announces VCU Leadership Development Program Class of 2022
The VCU Leadership Development Program is a collaborative effort to increase the skills of current and emerging campus leaders to bring together top university talent to improve the VCU community.
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Changemakers Alumni Spotlight: LeQuan Hylton
Increasing access to low-income housing through sustainable real estate
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Public Administration’s Whitney Brown named ASPA Founders Fellow
Whitney Brown, a second-year graduate student in Public Administration, has been selected as a 2022 Founders’ Fellow by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
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Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy with Miles Rapoport
On January 19, 2022, Miles Rapoport, senior practice fellow in American democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, led a spirited discussion based on the report “Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century.”
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A Leader among leaders: Remembering Chong Mo Pak
Chong Mo Pak, a former VCU professor, helped transform public service leadership education in Virginia.
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Poll: Close election reveals divided priorities among Virginians
As Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin prepares to be inaugurated as the 74th governor, the close election and divided legislature highlight policy differences among Virginians according to a new statewide Commonwealth Poll conducted by the Wilder School.
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Poll: Virginians want the General Assembly to focus on education and the economy
As the Virginia General Assembly prepares to start the 2022 legislative session, a new statewide Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University finds that Virginians want legislators to focus on education and the economy.
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Wilder School Virtual Lunch and Learn: Our Common Purpose - Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century
Join Miles Rapoport, senior practice fellow in American democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, for a timely discussion based on the report “Our Common Purpose: Reinventing American Democracy for the 21st Century” on January 19.
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‘A form of modern-day slavery’: examining the effects of human trafficking
An immersive course at the Wilder School raises awareness for students and connects them to the past and present in Richmond.
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Jay Albanese receives Outstanding Faculty Award
The award, sponsored by the State Council of Higher Education and Dominion Energy, is Virginia’s highest honor for faculty at public and private colleges and universities.
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Wilder School Spotlight: Caroline Bowen, VCU police officer and criminal justice undergraduate
The 2021 Wilder School Fall Commencement student speaker is VCU police officer and criminal justice undergraduate, Caroline Bowen.
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Class of 2021: Matthew Hussmann wants to focus on bringing positive change to communities
The real estate broker has long had a passion for building. Now, as a graduate of VCU’s urban and regional studies and planning program, he is looking at his career in a new way.
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Albanese Receives Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award
Dr. Jay Albanese, professor in the Wilder School, received the Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award at the meeting of the American Society of Criminology in Chicago.
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Election analysis 2021 and looking to the future with Bob Holsworth
On Nov. 17, 2021, Bob Holsworth, Ph.D., a respected political scientist, spoke at a virtual Lunch and Learn Series event hosted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. His presentation, “2021 Virginia Elections Analysis and What’s Ahead,” explored contributing factors that led to the election of Glenn Youngkin and the failures that loosened Democrats’ hold on the state.
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Wilder School Master of Urban and Regional Planning program receives accreditation renewal
The Wilder School's Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree program has received full renewal of its accreditation, as informed by the Planning and Accreditation Board.
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Wilder School Spotlight: Farjan Billah, HSEP undergraduate
Born and raised in Fairfax, VA, Farjan Billah believed that attending Virginia Commonwealth University was a natural plan for him, but his journey faced numerous challenges with unexpected twists and turns.
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Advocating for health equity for children’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout: a grassroots case study in Washington D.C.
On Oct. 20, when the Biden administration released guidelines for distributing COVID vaccines to children 5-11, Sarah Raskin, had some immediate concerns, as a healthcare policy expert, as a community volunteer and as a mom.
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Wilder School to host in-person Commencement
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is pleased to host an in-person ceremony honoring our August and December 2021 graduates. 2020 and Spring 2021 graduates are welcomed to attend and will be honored as well.
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Wilder School Spotlight: Sarah Pritchard, urban and regional studies undergraduate
A Mechanicsville-native, Sarah Pritchard found herself not too far from home, yet gaining the real-world experience she longed for at the Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Susan Gooden is the new president of NASPAA
The dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is now head of the world’s largest accrediting body for public affairs programs.
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November Lunch and Learn: 2021 Virginia Elections Analysis and What’s Ahead
Join respected political scientist, Robert "Bob" Holsworth, Ph.D., for a discussion on the results of the 2021 Virginia election and what it means for our citizens at the Wilder School's November virtual Lunch and Learn.
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Poll: Virginia’s elections are too close to call
Virginia’s gubernatorial election is nearly tied with 41% of likely voters supporting Democrat Terry McAuliffe and 38% supporting Republican Glenn Youngkin, according to the latest statewide poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Former Virginia governor: 20 years after 9/11, U.S. is ‘safer’
James Gilmore, the former U.S. ambassador and leader of the Gilmore Commission, says the country is better prepared to handle threats, but also warns of dangers posed by cyberattacks and misinformation.
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2021 ASPA Wilder School Presentations
Wilder School faculty, students and alumni—including Association Past President and Wilder School Dean, Susan Gooden, Ph.D.— present numerous presentations during the 2021 American Society for Public Administration Conference (ASPA) to be held virtually, April 9 -15.
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Hezha Barzani, a VCU senior, has a unique perspective on the Afghanistan withdrawal
His family fled the Kurdistan region of Iraq in 1996. Their refugee experience was executed in an efficient manner thanks to Operation Pacific Haven.
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Road to research: Blythe Balestrieri
Blythe Balestrieri, PhD., and associate professor at the Wilder School, began her academic career in criminal justice after working as a prison law librarian in graduate school.
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Exploring racial inequality in Virginia during COVID-19
Elsie Harper-Anderson is studying the disproportionate impact on Black workers and businesses by analyzing industry trends, unemployment data and business performance metrics by race.
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October Lunch and Learn with Jim Gilmore
James S. “Jim” Gilmore III, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, is the featured speaker for the October virtual Lunch and Learn.
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VCU honors Wilder School Graduate David Hinton Jr.
Wilder School graduate David Hinton Jr. (B.A.’12/GPA; M.Ed.’13/E) was selected as a 10 Under 10 honoree by the VCU Office of Alumni Relations.
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Wilder School in Action Fall 2021 Edition Now Available
The Fall 2021 edition of Wilder School in Action is now available.
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VCU honors Wilder School Graduate Monique Johnson
Wilder School graduate Monique Johnson, Ph.D. (Ph.D.’14/GPA) was selected as a 10 Under 10 honoree by the VCU Office of Alumni Relations.
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Wilder School Symposium hosts ‘The Triple Pandemic: Implications for Racial Equity and Public Policy’
The 2021 Wilder School Symposium hosted panelist discussions based on a forthcoming book focused on public health, justice and economics, all with an eye toward equity in the face of the pandemic.
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VCU honors Wilder School Graduate Tanya González
Wilder School graduate Tanya González (M.P.A.’17/GPA) was selected as a 10 Under 10 honoree by the VCU Office of Alumni Relations.
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Announcing the Class of 2021 Wilder Fellows
The Wilder School is pleased to announce the 2021 cohort of the Wilder Graduate Scholars’ Fellowship Program which includes a talented and dynamic class of eleven students from diverse backgrounds and programs.
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Harper-Anderson Named APPAM Entrepreneurship Policy Faculty Fellow
Congratulations to Elsie Harper-Anderson on being named an Entrepreneurship Policy Faculty Fellow by the Association for Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM).
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Poll: Majority of Virginians support mask mandates
A large majority of Virginians (75%) indicated they are concerned that new COVID-19 variants will lead to a worsening pandemic in their local community, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Meet the Newest Rams - Ethan Wright
Get to know this new Wilder School student and his plans for making the most of his experience.
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RVA Eviction Lab co-founder discusses ongoing research amid pandemic
On Sept. 22, Howell discussed the lab’s ongoing research during the COVID-19 pandemic and fielded questions from the audience at the Wilder School’s monthly Lunch and Learn series.
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McAuliffe leads in race for governor
As the margin widens in the governor’s race, the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general are narrowing, according to Wilder School Commonwealth Poll
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Jennifer Reid awarded a Faculty Fellowship from the VCU Office of the Provost
Jennifer Reid, Ph.D., a senior research associate with the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory at the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs has been awarded a Faculty Fellowship from the VCU Office of the Provost.
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Essays project envisions an equitable future for Richmond
The Richmond Racial Equity Essays project combines urban planning and governance ideas into a locally sourced collection. Its creators see it as a vital tool to help advance racial equity in the city.
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What can the motivations of terrorists teach us about Afghanistan?
We sat down with David Webber, an assistant professor and assistant chair of homeland security and emergency preparedness at the Wilder School, to learn how to better understand the belief systems that radicalize individuals to join terrorist groups—along with the implications this has for the recent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
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2022 EVGA Nominations Now Open
Nominations for the 2022 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards are open now through November 1, 2021.
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NSF Grant to Use Data-Driven Machine Learning to Combat Opioid Crisis
How can machine learning help stop the opioid epidemic? A multidisciplinary VCU research team will gather data to develop predictive treatment policies to help improve community health in Richmond and beyond.
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2021 Wilder Symposium presents “The Triple Pandemic: Implications for Racial Equity and Public Policy”
Join us for the 2021 Wilder Symposium: “The Triple Pandemic: Implications for Racial Equity and Public Policy,” presented virtually on Thursday, Sept. 30 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EST.
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Meghan Gough named VCU East End Cemetery Collaboratory Fellow
Congratulations to Meghan Gough, associate professor of urban and regional planning at the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. She has been named one of six VCU East End Cemetery Collaboratory Fellows.
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Experts convene to explore public policy solutions to address health disparities
Speakers, including Virginia’s chief diversity officer, collaborated with policymakers and health care professionals to make plans and improve conditions around health equity for all Virginians.
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Virginians divided on tax increases to support public services
A majority of Virginians indicated that they would be willing to pay more in taxes to support several public services, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Wilder School.
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Eviction Across the Commonwealth – What You Need to Know
Kathryn Howell, Ph.D., associate professor in the urban and regional studies and planning program and co-director of the RVA Eviction Lab, is the featured speaker for the September virtual Lunch and Learn.
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A Message from the Dean: Ready for the Challenge!
Wilder School Dean, Susan T. Gooden welcome students, faculty and staff back for the 2021 fall semester.
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Professor William Pelfrey to Forbes: Taliban presents new challenges for social media companies
The VCU Wilder School’s own William Pelfrey, professor of homeland security and criminal justice, is featured in a Forbes article exploring the impact on social media companies with the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
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The Colonial Pipeline Attack is a Clear Demonstration of the Threat of Ransomware
Christopher Whyte, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program at the Wilder School and co-author of “Understanding Cyber Warfare: Politics, Policy and Strategy,” is an expert in cyber conflict and U.S. cybersecurity policy. Whyte explained why it’s so difficult to protect against ransomware, why the attacks are increasingly common, and what policies might be useful in preventing future attacks.
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McAuliffe and Youngkin in a virtual tie in race for governor
In the race to become the next governor of Virginia, 40% of likely voters would vote for Terry McAuliffe while 37% would vote for Glenn Youngkin, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Albanese: National Academy of Science policing report advises evidence-based approach
Jay Albanese, professor of criminal justice in the Wilder School, recently served as one of six external reviewers from six countries for the National Academy of Sciences report, Policing to Promote the Rule of Law and Protect the Population: An Evidence-based Approach.
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Virginians Face Mental Health Struggles But Also See Improvements in Personal Relationships Amid Pandemic
A new VCU Wilder School poll shows that nearly half of Virginians reported experiencing a mental health downturn due to COVID-19; but nearly half also reported their personal relationships with family and friends have improved.
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Vaccine Hesitancy on the Rise Among Unvaccinated Virginians
A new VCU Wilder School poll shows that, despite a rise in coronavirus cases, unvaccinated individuals are becoming less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
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Windfalls of Recovery Cash Are Heading to State and Local Governments. How Should They Spend It?
Local and state governments are receiving a windfall of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and previous COVID-19 relief packages. How should government entities go about deciding how to spend this money, with the goal of helping the most people and improving quality of life?
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The Impact of American Recovery Act Funding on State and Local Government
William “Bill” Leighty (M.B.A.’79/B), senior strategic adviser at the Wilder School, will be the featured speaker for the July Virtual Lunch and Learn.
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Liebert Receives VDSS Contract for Immigration Study
Wilder School faculty member Saltanat ‘Salta’ Liebert has received a contract for $114,832 from the Office of New Americans at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to conduct a needs assessment to identify barriers to the integration of immigrants in Virginia.
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Racial and ethnic minorities experience disproportionate economic impacts of COVID-19
New VCU Wilder School poll shows that job loss, furlough, and/or reduced hours and pay have been more common among African-American and Hispanic communities.
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Unvaccinated racial and ethnic minorities in Virginia report they are more likely to get vaccinated than unvaccinated whites
New VCU Wilder School poll shows that African Americans are more likely to vaccinate their children and report favorable views of how elected officials have handled the pandemic in comparison to whites.
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Plessy vs. Ferguson Aired on American History TV (C-SPAN3)
Our recent Plessy v. Ferguson symposium marking the 125th anniversary since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Plessy v. Ferguson aired Sunday on American History TV on C-SPAN3.
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Isom-Payne Receives Prestigious Advising Award
Congratulations to Wilder School Assistant Dean of Student Success Shajuana Isom-Payne, recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Advising Advocate Award presented by the University Academic Advising Board!
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Wight Talks the Role of Transportation in a Post-COVID Virginia
The most recent virtual Wilder School Alumni Lunch and Learn featured Amy Wight, Virginia’s assistant secretary of transportation on June 16. Wight’s presentation was entitled “On the Move: Vacations, Work, School — The Role of Transportation in a Post-COVID Virginia” and highlighted transportation challenges faced due to the pandemic and the steps taken to get Virginians back on track.
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The Role of Public Affairs Higher Education in Terminating Racism and Healing Our Divided Society
Fifty-three years ago the Kerner Commission concluded that poverty and institutionalized racism had created a divided society—"one black, one white—separate and unequal"— a society that had culminated in the devastating riots of the late 1960s. Their report cited education as a critical lever for achieving equity and called for “a new will” to enact sweeping policy changes in education, labor, education, housing and policing that were never implemented.
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Richmond 300 Named Top Comprehensive Plan in the Nation
Richmond’s recently adopted master plan, which is intended to guide the city’s growth through the next 20 years, has won a national award from the American Planning Association (APA).
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Brown Selected as 2021 Governor's Fellow
Whitney Brown, a second-year graduate student in public administration at the VCU Wilder School, has been tapped to participate in the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program.
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Wight to Discuss The Role of Transportation in a Post-COVID Virginia
The next Wilder School Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation features Amy Wight, Virginia’s assistant secretary of transportation. Join us June 16 to hear her talk, “On the Move: Vacations, Work, School — The Role of Transportation in a Post-COVID Virginia.”
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Leadership... What Do You Produce?
L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th Governor of Virginia and a Distinguished Professor was the featured guest of the Wilder School’s Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on May 19.
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Join the Wilder School Student Ambassador & Advisory Council!
The Wilder School Student Ambassador & Advisory Council Program is looking for volunteers who wish to represent VCU Wilder School by providing support and participation for special events, campus tours, and other Wilder School special programs.
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Wilder School Virtual Commencement on May 14
The Wilder School will celebrate its Spring 2021 graduating class with a virtual send off at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 14 via Facebook and YouTube.
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A majority of Virginia parents are willing to have their children vaccinated
A majority of parents in Virginia are likely to get their children vaccinated, according to the new statewide vaccine poll conducted for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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PSRW 2021: Student & Alumni Spotlights
The Wilder School is proud to feature a current student and five alumni during Public Service Recognition Week who have made outstanding achievements in the realm of public service and policy.
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The History of the Wilder School
Since its inception, the Wilder School has been focused on public and community service in several forms with different degree programs at VCU. Learn more about the school's history during Public Service Recognition week.
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Plessy v. Ferguson and the Legacy of “Separate but Equal” After 125 Years Virtual Conference
Join us for the Plessy v. Ferguson and the Legacy of “Separate but Equal” After 125 Years virtual conference on Tuesday, May 18 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST.
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Governor Wilder to Reflect on Leadership Lessons
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation featuring Governor L. Douglas Wilder, 66th Governor of Virginia and Distinguished Professor on May 19.
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Public Service Recognition Week 2021
In commemoration of Public Service Recognition Week, the Wilder School will feature current students and alumni who have made outstanding achievements in the realm of public service and policy on our Wilder School Facebook page. We will also share stories about Governor L. Douglas Wilder’s notable career in public service and our school’s history over the years.
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Anti-racist Scholar and Activist Ibram Kendi Headlines Wilder School Sponsored Plenary at 2021 ASPA conference
The Wilder School sponsored a special Anti-Racism Plenary Session featuring National Book Award recipient Ibram Kendi during the 2021 American Society for Public Administration Conference (ASPA) held on April 14. Dean Susan Gooden moderated the discussion as Kendi elaborated on the concept of antiracism, his recent publications and thoughts on reparations and other policy recommendations.
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2020-21 Wilder School Student Awards & Recognition
The Wilder School Student Awards and Recognition ceremony took place virtually on April 12 and honored students for academic excellence.
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Finale doctoral lecture series talk to feature noted researcher, John T. Cooper, Jr.
The final lecture in this academic year’s Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will take place virtually on Tuesday, April 20 and feature John T. Cooper, Jr., Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Public Partnership & Outreach and a professor of the practice in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University.
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Dean Gooden Opinion Column in Richmond Times-Dispatch
Dean Susan Gooden’s guest opinion column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch reminds readers of the importance of celebrating Virginians who have made extraordinary contributions to the practice of government and the well-being of our communities and citizens.
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Wilder School to Participate in ASPA 2021 Virtual Conference
This week, thirteen Wilder School faculty, students and alumni—including Association Past President and Wilder School Dean, Susan Gooden, Ph.D.— present numerous presentations during the 2021 American Society for Public Administration Conference (ASPA) to be held virtually, April 9 -15.
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Leading During a Confluence of Crises
Last month, Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden sat down with two administrators from top schools of planning for a keynote panel hosted by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP), as part of the association’s 2021 Administrator’s Conference. Gooden was joined by Jim Spencer, vice provost and dean at Louisiana State University Graduate School and Kevin Hamilton, dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
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A VCU Wilder School institute is playing a key role in the state’s efforts to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine equitably
The Research Institute for Social Equity in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is providing support to Virginia’s efforts to promote equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to disproportionately impacted populations, such as the Black and Hispanic/Latino communities.
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Wilder School No. 38 in U.S., Top Ranked in Virginia for Social and Urban Policy
The 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 38. The school is also ranked No. 19 in Social Policy, No. 28 in Urban Policy, and No. 34 in Public Management and Leadership.
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VCU Wilder School to Honor Excellence in Virginia Government Awards
The Wilder School will honor individuals and organizations in seven categories for contributions to Commonwealth citizens and communities on Thursday, April 15, 2021.
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2021 VCU Service Recognition Celebration
A total of 22 Wilder School employees will be recognized at the University’s Annual Service Recognition Celebration, including our namesake and distinguished faculty member Governor L. Douglas Wilder who will be recognized for 25 years of service.
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‘We’re in a race to vaccinate people,’ says Virginia Health Commissioner at Wilder School Event
The Alumni Lunch and Learn series featured M. Norman Oliver, who said the state is in a race against the two new COVID-19 variants.
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Dean Gooden to Receive Prized Public Administration Award
The university community congratulates Wilder School Dean and Professor Susan Gooden, Ph.D., the 2021 recipient of the Charles H. Levine Memorial Award for Excellence in Public Administration.
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2018 Class of MPLI Publish Food Insecurity Findings
Members of the 2018 cohort of the Minority Political Leadership Institute (MPLI) have published new findings on food insecurity in Virginia in the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy (JMPSP).
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Wilder School Alumni Among Fulbright Semifinalists
Wilder School alumna Anna Connor as well as an additional student are among a list of 13 VCU students and alumni selected to advance to the final round of consideration for a Fulbright U.S. Student grant for the 2021-22 academic year.
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VCU Wilder School Grad Students Take First and Third Place in International ‘Pandemic 2.0’ Simulation Competition
VCU Wilder School graduate students, Darshan Parikh, Whitney Brown and Frances Stadlin, and their respective teams, placed first and third in the NASPAA-Batten Student Simulation Competition.
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Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Planning and Administration Response
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on March 17 about the state of Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign and administration response, featuring M. Norman Oliver, M.D., M.A., commissioner for the Virginia Department of Health.
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Fear, Faulty Equations and Uneven Public Policy: The Real Drivers of Pandemic Economic Decline
William Spriggs, a professor of economics at Howard University and chief economist of the AFL-CIO, joined the latest installment of the Wilder School’s Alumni Lunch and Learn Series on February 17 to address the coronavirus pandemic and the economy.
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Keck Talks Safety during COVID-19
Wilder School Professor James W. Keck was featured in WalletHub's recent article about the Safest States during COVID 19.
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At the General Assembly (sort of) with VCU’s capitol semester students
Interns at the Virginia State Capitol this legislative session are doing most of their work virtually as part of the Virginia Capitol Semester internship program, offered every spring through the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
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Richmond-area youth to present research into impact of eviction in Richmond
The RVA Eviction Lab and VCU School of Social Work will host a virtual event Feb. 18 at which three teams of young people from Richmond-area community organizations will present the findings of research they have conducted over the past year into eviction and housing instability in Richmond.
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Racial and Ethical Dilemmas in Planning – And What We Can Do About It
Our cities weren’t created equal. But they don’t have to stay that way. June Manning Thomas, a noted scholar and Centennial Professor Emerita at the University of Michigan got candid about the racial and ethical challenges faced by planning professors and professionals during the Wilder School’s Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy on February 4.
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Economic Recovery and the Pandemic
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on February 17 about economic recovery related to the pandemic featuring William Spriggs, Ph.D., professor of economics at Howard University and chief economist at the AFL-CIO.
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Trani and Kneebone discuss new book
A discussion with VCU President Emeritus Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., and John T. Kneebone, Ph.D., VCU associate professor emeritus of history, led by VCU Libraries Dean Emeritus John Ulmschneider, kicked off the 2021 season of the Wilder School’s Alumni Lunch and Learn series on Friday, January 22.
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Majority say General Assembly special session failed to address systemic racism
Only 14% of Virginians felt that the policies passed during the tumult of the 2020 special session of the General Assembly confronted the issue of systemic racism while 18% feel the session did not address the issue at all, according to a new statewide Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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A majority of Virginians now say they are very likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine
More than 7 in 10 Virginians say they are likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new statewide Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Thomas headlines February doctoral lecture
The next Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will take place virtually on Thursday, February 4 and feature June Manning Thomas, Ph.D., Mary Frances Berry Distinguished University Professor Emerita of Urban Planning at University of Michigan.
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Large majority of Virginians lacked information about the state budget process
More than 8 in 10 Virginians (81%) said they did not have enough information to approve or disapprove of the state budget that was passed during the most recent General Assembly special session, according to the new statewide Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Ahead of His Class: Celebrating 90 Years of Pathbreaking Leadership in Education
The L. Douglas Wilder School will commemorate the 90th birthday of Governor L. Douglas Wilder. We will recognize his extraordinary career and outstanding commitment to public service education with a virtual celebration on Friday, January 15.
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‘Fulfilling the Promise, Virginia Commonwealth University and the City of Richmond, 1968–2009’
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on January 22 featuring VCU President Emeritus Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., and John T. Kneebone, Ph.D., VCU associate professor emeritus of history.
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Election 2020 and Beyond
As a tumultuous 2020 Presidential election drew to a close, the Wilder School invited Dr. Bob Holsworth, a noted political analyst and founding director of both the Wilder School and the Center for Public Policy, to its Alumni Lunch and Learn on November 18.
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Susan Gooden Publishes Clear-Eyed Book on “Global Equity in Administration”
New book edited by Susan T. Gooden, Global Equity in Public Administration: Nervous Areas of Governments, confronts discrimination and exclusion against public servants, governments and government actors.
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Research grants focus on preventing adverse childhood experiences, trauma
VCU faculty from the Wilder School and School of Social Work are studying way to better understand and prevent adverse childhood experiences and trauma through the health care, education and juvenile justice systems.
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Wilder school to host virtual commencement
The Wilder School will celebrate its graduating class with a virtual send off at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11.
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A first step, a second chance: public support for restoring rights of individuals with prior convictions
SAGE Publishing and International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology recently published an article by Wilder School faculty member Christina Mancini and the Center of Public Policy’s Robyn McDougle and Brittany Keegan.
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Biden voters more likely to be voting against Trump than for Biden
While Democrat Joe Biden remains ahead by double digits in Virginia, his voters are more likely to see the choice as a vote against President Donald Trump than a vote for Biden, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Unpacking the racial implications of Virginia's Amendment 1
To help us better understand and unpack the racial implications of Virginia's Amendment 1, the Wilder School’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and the Minority Political Leadership Institute hosted a lively virtual discussion featuring state policymakers and thought leaders on the subject.
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Protecting the Integrity of the Vote
Our most recent Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy featured Christopher E. “Chris” Piper, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections on October 21. Piper addressed the ongoing and most recent concerns behind the security and protection of the election and voters, as well as the importance of know how and where you can vote especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Holsworth to talk Election 2020 and Beyond: What Happened and What's Next
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation featuring Bob Holsworth, Ph.D., a political scientist and founding director of the Center for Public Policy and the Wilder School on November 18.
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Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden elected vice president of global accreditation body
Congratulations to VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Dean, Susan Gooden, who was elected Vice President of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) at its 2020 annual conference.
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Announcing the Class of 2020 Wilder Fellows
The Wilder School is pleased to announce the 2020 cohort of Wilder Graduate Scholars’ Fellowship Program which includes a talented and dynamic class of nine students from diverse backgrounds and programs.
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Wilder School to host ACJS Congressional “Ask a Criminologist” briefing
Please join the Crime & Justice Research Alliance (CJRA) and the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) for its fourth annual “Ask a Criminologist” congressional briefing hosted by the VCU Wilder School on Wednesday, October 21.
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The power and danger of public perception in matters of race and criminology
The Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy featuring Shaun L. Gabbidon, a Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Penn State Harrisburg examined the connection between racial perceptions, criminal justice policy and punishment.
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Wilder School Students & Alumni Honored at NASPAA 2020 Virtual Conference
Wilder School faculty will be at the forefront of the first-ever virtual Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) conference held October 14-16.
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Numerous awards received within the Undergraduate Advising Office
Nicolette Zbell, Matthew Smith, and Nick Garcia are all experienced members of the Wilder School’s Undergraduate Advising Office who were recently recognized by the university with distinctions for service.
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The Department of Justice awards $425,000 to School of Medicine and Wilder School researchers to reduce risk for girls in the Juvenile Justice system
iCubed core has been awarded a $425,000 award from the Department of Justice "Reducing Risk for Girls in the Juvenile Justice" grant for their project "Disrupting the Trauma-to-Prison Pipeline for Girls in Virginia: A Multilevel Intervention."
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VCU honors Wilder School Graduate Christopher Mcintosh
Wilder School graduate Chris McIntosh ((M.A.’14/GPA) was selected as a 10 Under 10 honoree by the VCU Office of Alumni Relations.
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YWCA to honor two Wilder School alumnae
Two Wilder School alumnae, Suzette Denslow (Urban Studies '79) and Myra Goodman Smith (Urban Studies '82, MPA '84) will be honored at this year's YWCA Richmond Outstanding Women Awards.
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Myers talks about race inequality
The 2020-21 season of the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy began on Thursday, September 10, with a talk by Samuel L. Myers, Jr., of the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota.
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Gabbidon headlines October doctoral lecture
The next Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will take place virtually on Thursday, October 8 and feature Shaun L. Gabbidon, Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Penn State Harrisburg.
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Piper to discuss Protecting the Integrity of the Vote
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation featuring Chris Piper (B.A.’01/H&S), commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections on October 21.
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Graduate Information Session on October 23
Learn about the Wilder School’s graduate programs and how they can help advance your career at the "Why Wilder? Graduate Information Session" on Friday, October 23.
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VCU, VUU celebrate 30th anniversary of L. Douglas Wilder’s inauguration as Virginia’s 66th governor
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of L. Douglas Wilder as the 66th governor of Virginia and the first elected African American governor in U.S. history.
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A majority of Virginians are skeptical about the safety of reopening schools for in-person classes, VCU poll finds
Fifty-five percent of Virginians think it is not too safe or not at all safe to send children in their community back to school for in-person classes, while 42% think it is very safe or somewhat safe, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Biden and Warner have double-digit leads in Virginia
Democrats Joe Biden and Mark Warner are ahead of their opponents by double-digit margins, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Cleary receives NSF grant
Hayley Cleary, an associate professor of Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the Wilder School, has received a grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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Wooldridge receives IASIA award
Wilder School Professor Emeritus Blue E. Wooldridge has been selected as the 2020 co-recipient of the Donald Stone Award for Outstanding Contribution and Well-being of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA).
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Moret to discuss Virginia's Economy: Where to from here?
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation featuring Stephen Moret, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership on September 16.
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Public Service, the Wilder School & YOU virtual session on Sept. 2
The Wilder School is hosting special information sessions for state and local government employees interested in graduate school. Learn more about our degree and certificate programs and our current enrollment on September 2.
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Commonwealth Poll selected CNN 2020 Presidential Election Poll
The VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll has been selected as a featured 2020 Presidential Election Poll by CNN.
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Virginia schools use guidance from VDOE and face challenging decisions when reopening
As Virginia’s K-12 school divisions work to determine their reopening plans and what’s best for their communities amid the ongoing pandemic, VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs joined forces with the School of Education to offer some helpful guidance in the Alumni Lunch and Learn Series on August 19.
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Virtual symposium to commemorate 30th anniversary of Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s inauguration
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, in partnership with Virginia Union University, will host a daylong virtual leadership symposium on Sept. 17 honoring the legacy of L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th governor of Virginia and the country’s first elected African American governor. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Wilder’s inauguration.
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2020-21 Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series to kick-off Sept.10
The 2020-21 season of the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will kick-off on Thursday, September 10, with a talk by Samuel L. Myers, Jr., of Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota.
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Dean Gooden Moderating ASPA Panel on Dual Pandemics
The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and Racism will be discussed by a panel of four faculty, including Professor Emeritus Blue Wooldridge, and moderated by Dean Susan Gooden on Wednesday, August 12 from 1:00-2:30 p.m.
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Harper-Anderson cited in NBC news article on the impact of COVID-19 on small business and gaps in recovery funding
Wilder School Professor Elsie Harper-Anderson was referenced in the article “For richer and poorer, Uncle Sam's coronavirus response widened the gulf” written by NBC News reporter Jonathan Allen.
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Approval of Trump's and Northam's handling of COVID-19 has fallen since April
President Donald Trump and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam saw approval ratings for their handling of the COVID-19 crisis drop since April, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Alumni Lunch and Learn on K-12 Return to School
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on Wednesday, August 19 featuring James Lane, Ed.D., Virginia Department of Education superintendent of public instruction, Maria Pitre-Martin, Ph.D., superintendent of Petersburg City Public Schools and VCU School of Education Dean Andrew Daire, Ph.D.
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Williams Reflects on Richmond's History & Today
The Wilder School continued its Alumni Lunch and Learn Series with a powerful presentation and discussion with Michael Paul Williams, columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch on July 22.
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Wilder Faculty Newly Appointed Positions
Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden and professor Will Pelfrey were both recently appointed to community positions.
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Haupt Co-edits New Book on Cultural Competence in Emergency Management
Wilder faculty member Brie Haupt has co-edited “Cultural Competency for Emergency and Crisis Management, Concepts, Theories and Case Studies,” recently published by Routledge.
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Howell & Teresa Expand RVA Eviction Lab
Kate Howell and Ben Teresa, co-founders of the RVA Eviction Lab and core members of our Wilder School graduate faculty talk about expanding to Hopewell, Petersburg and Hampton Roads as eviction moratoriums are being lifted.
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Harper-Anderson Explores Economic Impact of COVID-19, CARES Act on Black Workers and Businesses in Virginia
Wilder School associate professor of urban and regional planning Elsie Harper-Anderson, Ph.D.'s latest study explores economic impact of COVID-19 and the CARES Act on Black workers and businesses in Virginia.
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Dean Gooden Guest Appears on NPR's Throughline Podcast
Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden participates as one of the guest experts on NPR's Throughline podcast discussing 1967's Kerner Commission.
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Wilder School Supports our International Students
Message from the Dean on how VCU and the Wilder School strongly support our international students and our commitment to global education.
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Alumni Lunch and Learn to feature noted columnist, Michael Paul Williams on July 22
Join the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs for a Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on Wednesday, July 22 featuring Michael Paul Williams, columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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Moran Reviews Virginia’s Response to COVID-19
The Wilder School kicked-off the first of its Alumni Lunch and Learn Series featuring Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran on June 24.
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Wilder School to Hold Inaugural Alumni Lunch and Learn on June 24
Join the Wilder School for its inaugural Alumni Lunch and Learn Series with a virtual Zoom presentation featuring the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran on Wednesday, June 24.
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Two-time Wilder School Alumnus Appointed to Head VDEM
Gov. Ralph Northam has appointed Curtis Brown, a two-time alumnus of the VCU Wilder School, to lead the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
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Wilder School Town Hall, “Let’s Be Part of the Solution”
More than 50 faculty, staff, and alumni joined Dean Susan Gooden in a Wilder School Town Hall Friday, June 5 to discuss how we can actively contribute to achieving a healthy society.
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Gooden’s Book Selected as Winner of the Herbert Simon Award
VCU Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden, Ph.D.'s published book, Race and Social Equity: A Nervous Area of Government, receives the Herbert Simon Best Book Award from the Public Administration section of the American Political Science Association.
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Smith Receives Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Award
Jessica Smith, a doctoral candidate in public policy and administration at the VCU Wilder School, has been awarded a grant from the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy to support her dissertation project, "Assessing School Safety in the Age of Threat Assessment: A Policy Study."
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A Message from Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden
Wilder School Dean, Susan T. Gooden addresses racism and COVID-19 and how we can be a part of the solution.
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Now What? The Ethical and Sociological Impact of Covid-19
Join a Q&A led by faculty members from VCU's Honors College, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and College of Humanities and Sciences, who will explore the lasting ethical and sociological impacts of COVID-19.
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In His Own Words: Governor Wilder on the Creation of Virginia’s Rainy Day Fund
The American Society for Public Administration recently published an op-ed in which L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th Governor of Virginia and a distinguished member of our faculty, recounted in great detail the creation of the Rainy Day Fund, a reserve which will almost assuredly be used to address the pandemic.
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Virtual Lunch-and-Learn: Wilder School Graduate Programs for VCU Employees
The Wilder School will host a virtual information session for VCU employees who want to know more about the School’s flexible and affordable graduate and certificate programs on June 5. Learn more about our current enrollment incentives—including a waiver of GRE and other testing requirements and our extended July 1 application deadlines.
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Wilder School Teach-In: RVA Eviction Lab
Please join Dr. Kathryn Howell and Dr. Ben Teresa, co-directors of the RVA Eviction Lab and instructors in the Wilder School's Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, for an overview and discussion of the RVA Eviction Lab's important work and relationship to the Wilder School.
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Public Service, the Wilder School & YOU
The Wilder School is hosting special information sessions for state and local government employees interested in graduate school. Learn more about our degree and certificate programs and our current enrollment incentives available for a limited-time only.
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Celebrating Our Class of 2020 Graduates
VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs’ virtual graduation celebration took place on Friday, May 8 at 10 a.m. The school congratulated the recipients of nearly 300 professional, graduate and undergraduate degrees and certificates. Learn more and visit our Wilder School virtual graduation celebration site.
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Liebert Elected as Chair-Elect of ASPA’s Section on Personnel Administration and Labor Relations (SPALR)
Wilder School associate professor, Saltanat (Salta) Liebert, Ph.D., was elected as Chair-Elect for ASPA's Section on Personal Administration and Labor Relations.
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Wilder School Faculty & Staff Awards
This year, the Wilder School recognizes and celebrates faculty and staff members who have triumphed through unprecedented times to deliver our students the highest-quality teaching, scholarship and support services as well as displayed commitment to academic excellence and phenomenal work within our community and beyond.
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Wilder School Recipients of VCU COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity
Wilder School faculty members and RVA Eviction Lab co-directors, Kathryn Howell, Ph.D. and Ben Teresa, Ph.D. as well as Elsie Harper-Anderson, Ph.D., director of the Wilder School’s Ph.D. program in public policy and administration are among those selected as initial recipients to receive funding under the a VCU COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity with support from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research.
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WilderLive! Panel Discussion for Students
Join us for WilderLIVE! Summer Isn’t Cancelled! on Tuesday, May 19 from 1 p.m - 2 p.m. for a panel discussion on what students can do to stay on track during COVID. Representatives from Academic Advising, Office of Student Success, Career Services, & Summer Studies will be answering students questions.
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ASPA and the Wilder School Host Final Webinar of Series
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the Wilder School are partnering to host the final webinar in a four-part series looking at effective leadership in a time of crisis.
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Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Violence
Wilder School professor, Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., held a virtual discussion on the "Impacts of COVID-19 on Intimate Partner Violence and Victimization" co-hosted by the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and Minority Political Leadership Institute (MPLI) at the Center for Public Policy on April 24
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ASPA and the Wilder School Host Part 3 of Webinar Series
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the Wilder School are partnering to host the third in a four-part webinar series looking at effective leadership in a time of crisis.
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Cleary’s interrogation bill signed by Governor Northam
For the past year and a half, Hayley Cleary, Ph.D., an associate professor of Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the Wilder School, has worked with Senator Jennifer McClellan to gain support for a bill that would mandate all Virginia state law enforcement agencies to electronically record custodial interrogations conducted in a place of detention. Cleary's bill, HB1023, passed the House and on April 11, Governor Northam signed it into law.
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PMG presents a participant forum
The Performance Management Group (PMG) at Virginia Commonwealth University is presenting a Participant Forum on March 26 and invites individuals to be part of building a community of managers and supervisors who share their ideas and experiences in navigating change and leading teams through these extraordinary times.
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Large majorities of Virginians support policies passed during General Assembly session
More than 6-in-10 Virginians approve of various gun control, minimum wage and redistricting policies passed by the General Assembly, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Raskin and Smith Pen Op-ed Calling for Increased Internet Access as a Necessity for Better Health
In today’s edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Wilder School’s own Sarah Raskin and Shelly Smith, call for legislative action on the expansion of broadband infrastructure, leveraging data collected from the Commonwealth Connect Coalition and the 2019 County Health Rankings.
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Webinar Identifies COVID-19’s Equity Problem
Higher rates of infection and death among African Americans demonstrate the racial character of inequality in America, according to a panel hosted by the VCU Wilder School and the American Society for Public Administration on April 16.
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Assessing the Benefits of Distributed Solar in Virginia
Fabrizio Fasulo, Ph.D., Director of the Wilder School’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA) and Damian Pitt, Ph.D., associate professor and program chair of Urban and Regional Studies and Planning, have released a new study evaluating the impacts of the potential purchase, installation and maintenance of 2,500 MW of new distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity in Virginia.
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ASPA and the Wilder School Host Part 2 of Webinar Series
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the Wilder School are partnering to host the second in a four-part webinar series looking at effective leadership in a time of crisis.
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Gooden Named Dean of Wilder School
Susan Gooden, Ph.D., who has served as interim dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University since May 2018, has been named dean, effective April 16. She will oversee a professional school which ranks among the top 20 percent of schools of its kind in the nation, includes more than 1,200 students, nine undergraduate and graduate programs and a comprehensive Center for Public Policy.
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Wilder School to Host Virtual Graduation
Although we will not be able to honor all of our graduates at an in-person commencement next month, the Wilder School is planning a virtual commencement celebration and invite students to participate.
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Large majority of Virginians approve of how Northam is handling the COVID-19 crisis
More than three-quarters of Virginians (76%) approve of the way Gov. Ralph Northam is handling the coronavirus crisis, with 40% strongly approving, according to a new statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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School to Host Virtual Day of Thanks
To express our gratitude and appreciation for our VCU Health System colleagues, the Wilder School is inviting faculty, staff and students and their families to participate in a voluntary Virtual Thank-You Campaign, this Friday, April 17.
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Brubaker elected as Vice President of the Society of the Study of Social Problems
Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., professor in the Wilder School’s criminal justice and public policy and administration programs, was recently elected as the Vice President of the Society of the Study for Social Problems (SSSP).
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ASPA and the Wilder School Partner to Host Special Coronavirus Webinar
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the Wilder School are partnering to host a free webinar looking at the social equity disparities related to the coronavirus's effects on African Americans.
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Supporting Students in Extraordinary Times
In an effort to help support students through these extraordinary times, the Wilder School is working to connect students with a range of resources designed to support the many dimensions of their lives, including academic financial, counseling referral and advising services.
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Raskin and Howell to Headline Alumni Health Care Policy Forum
Join VCU Alumni's Facebook Live discussion with Wilder School faculty members, Sarah Raskin, Ph.D. and Kathryn Howell, Ph.D. on Monday, April 20 at 12 p.m.
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VCU Ranks Among Top Homeland Security Degree Programs for 2020
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs of Virginia Commonwealth University was ranked “Best in the Southeast” among Intelligent.com’s Top 52 Homeland Security Degrees.
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Wilder School Ranks #45 in Latest U.S. News & World Report
The 2020 U.S. News & World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the nation’s top 20% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 45. The school also ranks No. 39 in Public Management & Leadership, marking the first time the Wilder School has ranked in one of the specialty areas. Also ranks #39 in Public Management and Leadership.
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Williams to retire after 43 years with VCU
Susan ‘Su’ Williams, the Wilder School’s Senior Finance Manager, is set to retire at the end of March 2020. Williams has worked for Virginia Commonwealth University for an amazing 43 years in various roles and departments. She has spent the last twelve of those years with the Wilder School reaching outstanding goals and accomplishing tremendous work.
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Faculty and Students Awarded Top Honors by ASPA
Although the American Society for Public Administration 2020 Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA scheduled for April 3-7, 2020 has been cancelled, we would still like to salute the Wilder School faculty and students who were selected to be recognized at this year’s conference for their outstanding scholarly and professional contributions.
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Cleary works to craft criminal justice policy in Virginia
Hayley Cleary, Ph.D., an associate professor of Criminal Justice and Public Policy at the Wilder School, has spent her academic career studying the intersection of social science, law, and policy as she examines the experiences of youth in the criminal justice system. Today, she’s working to turn this research into public policy in Virginia.
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Wilder School students among Black History in the Making recipients
Four Wilder School students were among the recipients of the 2020 Black History in the Making Awards by VCU’s College of Humanities & Science’s department of African American Studies. Speciose Nyamatereko, Ashley Coles, Taylor Jenkins and Lark Washington were each selected to receive this year’s honor.
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Lee-Hing to participate in VCU Globe’s Peace Corps panel
Denia A. Lee-Hing, Ed.D., director of graduate studies at the Wilder School, will be participating as a panel member in an upcoming VCU Globe event partnered with the Peace Corps. The special event will showcase gender equality initiatives, women's health projects, and female empowerment camps from a panel of female Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in celebration of Women's History month.
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Wilder School Announces 2020 EVGA Honorees
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University will honor individuals and organizations who have made noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and the betterment of the state on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
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Finale doctoral lecture series talk to feature noted researcher and author, Ann-Margaret Esnard
The final lecture in this academic year’s Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will feature Ann-Margaret Esnard, associate dean for research in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, and a distinguished university professor in the Department of Public Management and Policy at Georgia State University.
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Honoring L. Douglas Wilder: Continuing 30 Years of History, Then & Now Day-long leadership symposium
POSTPONED: Virginia Union University (VUU) will host a day-long leadership symposium honoring the legacy of L. Douglas Wilder, 66th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Governor Wilder’s inauguration.
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Wilder School doctoral alum joins UMich
Gilbert Michaud, Ph.D., an alum of the Wilder School’s doctoral program is a newly appointed research scholar and faculty affiliate at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan through their Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) program.
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Graduate Information Session on February 21
Learn about the Wilder School’s graduate programs and how they can help advance your career at the "Why Wilder? Graduate Information Session" on Friday, February 21.
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VCU Hosts Kazakh Delegation through Open World Program
The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, the VCU Global Education Office, and the VCU Robertson School of Media and Culture recently hosted a delegation of officials from Kazakhstan from January 24 – February 9. The visit was administered through the Open World Program.
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Wilder School graduate returns for book talk
Xavier Guadalupe-Diaz, Ph.D., one of the first graduates of the Wilder School’s Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention program, will return to talk about his new book Transgressed: Intimate Partner Violence in Transgender Lives with New York University Press on February 26.
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February doctoral lecture series talk to feature noted author, Lance Freeman
The next installment of the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will take place on Monday, February 10. The event will feature Lance Freeman, Ph.D., a professor in the Urban Planning Program and the Director of the doctoral program in Urban Planning at Columbia University in New York City.
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Continuing 30 Years of History
January 13, 2020 marks the 30th Anniversary of the inauguration of The Honorable L. Douglas Wilder, 66th Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As we remember this historic day, we also look forward to celebrating Governor Wilder's continuing legacy with a day-long leadership symposium.
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Virginians’ favor stricter gun laws, willing to pay more for education
Ahead of the General Assembly session, a majority of Virginians favor stricter gun laws and believe public schools are underfunded and a majority of Virginians would be willing to pay more, according to statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Virginians' motivation to vote grows
Against the backdrop of last month’s election that gave Democrats control of Virginia’s General Assembly and amid the ongoing process of impeaching President Donald Trump, Virginians are increasingly motivated to vote, according to statewide poll conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Foy recognized for tenacity by DAR
Wilder School staff member, Laura Foy, received the Demonstrating Tenacity award from the VCU Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR).
Read more.png "Brittany Keegan, Ph.D.,Ashlee Barnes, Ph.D., Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., and Danielle Apugo, Ph.D.")
Panel explores criminalization of trauma in schools
Faculty members from the Wilder School, the Center for Public Policy (CPP) of the Wilder School and the VCU School of Education participated in a panel discussion on the “Disrupting Criminalization in Education” iCubed project and insights from the Wilder School Commonwealth Poll.
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Branch competes in VCU Venture’s Next Big Idea Challenge
Wilder School staff member Gwyneth Branch is competing in the 2019 Next Big Idea Challenge by VCU Ventures and Activation Capital. The Next Big Idea Challenge is an online competition for VCU staff to submit ideas for a new company, product, or service and the chance to win up to $1,400 in cash, just in time for the holidays.
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Albanese participates in U.N. Anti-Corruption Symposium
Wilder School professor Jay Albanese, PhD., recently participated in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) "Anti-Corruption Academic Symposium," organized by UNODC in cooperation with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).
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Majority of Virginians favor legalized gambling
With the scheduled release of a JLARC study on gambling in Virginia later today, the results of a statewide poll released in late October by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University offers perspective on how Virginians feel about gambling.
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Wilder School professor emeritus awarded NAPA’s George Graham Award for service
Wilder School Professor Emeritus Blue Wooldridge has been awarded the 2019 George Graham Award for Exceptional Service from the National Academy of Public Administration.
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Wilder School faculty shine at 2019 APPAM Fall Conference
Last week, five faculty members from the Wilder School’s academic programs and Centers for Public Policy (CPP) traveled to the annual 2019 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference in Denver, Co. Each participated in the event as panelists, discussants, presenters, exhibitors and hosts of featured events.
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VCU Alumni honors Wilder School graduate Rosalyn R. Dance
The Honorable Senator Rosalyn R. Dance, a Wilder School graduate with a master’s in public administration, was recognized by VCU Alumni Relations as the Wilder School Alumni Star.
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Student Scholarship Deadline is Feb. 1
Applications for Wilder School undergraduate and graduate scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year are due Saturday, February 1.
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Chunda participates in 2019 VCU Qatar Leadership Exchange
Sombo Chunda, a third-year doctoral candidate in public policy and administration at the VCU Wilder School, was recently selected to participate in the 2019 VCU Qatar Leadership Exchange. The Qatar Leadership Exchange is the premier cross-cultural leadership development program offered by the Division of Student Affairs at the university. Its purpose is to increase appreciation, awareness, and collaboration between VCU's Richmond and VCUarts Qatar campuses.
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VCU honors Wilder School Graduate Joshua Son
Joshua Son, a Wilder School graduate with a master’s in urban and regional planning, was named by Virginia Commonwealth University as one of the university’s top 10 graduates of the previous decade.
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Former Va. Gov. Gerald Baliles, who served at the top of the ticket during a historic run for statewide office in 1985, dies at 79
Former Va. Gov. Gerald Baliles who served at the top of the ticket during a historic run for statewide office in 1985 has died at age 79. Interim Dean Susan Gooden and longtime colleague and distinguished faculty member, L. Douglas Wilder, issued a statement.
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Alanazi to receive 2019 NECoPA Best Student Paper Award
Wilder School doctoral candidate Layla Alanazi has been awarded NecOPA's Best Student Paper Award for her study entitled “Does Gender Really Matter? Testing the Mediating Role of Public Service Motivation Between Gender and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Federal Agencies.”
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Criminologist, Callie Rennison gets personal with insights on life in academia
Author and criminologist, Callie Rennison, Ph.D., shared twelve personal insights on life in academia with students, faculty and alumni during the Wilder School’s Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy on October 28. Her talk “From Here to There, to Where? The Life Course of One Academic,” highlighted her journey from indecisive undergraduate to noted academician.
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Graduate Information Session on November 1
Learn about the Wilder School’s graduate programs and how they can help advance your career at the "Why Wilder? Graduate Information Session" on Friday, November 1.
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PASA panel to cover diverse public health issues
Join the Public Administration Student Association (PASA) on Thursday, November 7, "Putting Policy into Action," a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring a range of Virginia public health issues. Topics to be discussed include needle exchange programs, policies surrounding medical marijuana, and efforts to ban conversion therapy.
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Wilder School Faculty & Staff Service Recognition
Congratulations to our Wilder School colleagues for their many years of dedicated service to Virginia Commonwealth University!
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Wilder School Poll Shows a Majority of Virginians Believe Congress Should Begin Impeachment Hearings or Continue Investigation for President Trump
According to a statewide poll conducted by the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy, a majority of Virginians believe that there is enough evidence to begin impeachment hearings or continue investigation into President Trump. The Commonwealth Poll 2019, sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University, obtained telephone interviews with a representative sample of 800 adults, age 18 or older, living in Virginia from September 23 to October 4.
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Wilder School faculty, students and alumni lead talks at NASPAA
Ten faculty, students and alumni from the VCU Wilder School led conversations on innovation in public affairs teaching and the challenges of training students to build more inclusive democracies at the 2019 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Conference in Los Angeles last
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Announcing the Class of 2019 Wilder Fellows!
Announcing the 2019 Class of Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellows, the VCU Wilder School welcomes a talented and robust cohort of 13 fellows to the program. Learn about the fellowship's tremendous growth and how it continues to serve as a valuable connection between state agencies, nonprofit organizations and the school's exceptional master's students.
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Wilder School Alumni Networking Reception: Professionals in Public Service
If you've earned a degree from the VCU Wilder School, please join us for an alumni networking reception later this month. Grab your business cards and join us at this event to expand your network and meet professionals in the area, share your pathway to success and learn from others and learn about what’s happening at the Wilder School.
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Symposium challenges Va. college presidents to reflect on race in academia
In a year marked by one of the most meaningful and sustained inquiries into the history of African peoples in America in recent cultural history, the 2019 Wilder Symposium provided a personal and unflinching look at race and inclusion in higher education as told from the perspective of four Virginia college presidents.
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October doctoral lecture series talk to feature noted criminologist, Callie Rennison
The next installment of the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will take place on Monday, October 29. The event will feature Callie Rennison, Ph.D., a noted professor and criminologist at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs.
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Community panel explores impact of eviction
What’s the community impact of Richmond’s staggering eviction rates? The Wilder School recently convened a thoughtful panel of scholars, lawyers, youth and community activists to find out.The panel, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” was held in conjunction with the 2019 VCU Common Book, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts on September 26.
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2020 EVGA nominations now open
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is pleased to announce that nominations for the 2020 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards are open now through November 15, 2019.
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The First Supervisors and Managers Bootcamp Created a Safe and Interactive Learning Experience
Being a supervisor can be challenging, rewarding, frustrating, and amazing all in one day. Supervision of others requires constant hat-switching from coach to manager to cheerleader and more. The Performance Management Group (PMG) within the Center for Public Policy at VCU’s Wilder School created the Supervisors and Managers Bootcamp (SMB) to help supervisors, managers, and project managers tackle their days armed with relevant knowledge and practical ideas.
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Four faculty openings!
The Wilder School is hiring four faculty who will contribute to its scholarly and pedagogical focus in a variety of areas. Priority review will begin on October 15, 2019 and continue until each position is filled.
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SERL to study post-college outcomes for SCHEV
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has awarded $750,000 to the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory (SERL) for a one-year research study. The study will describe post-college outcomes for recent baccalaureate and associate degree earners at state-supported institutions of higher education in Virginia.
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2019 Wilder Symposium to explore “Race in Academia” September 24
The 2019 Wilder Symposium at Virginia Commonwealth University will explore “race and academia” and will feature the presidents of Virginia State University, the University of Richmond, Reynolds Community College and VCU.
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Wilder School to screen "Seats at the Table," a unique documentary film that explores an inmate literature program
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Wilder School will present a screening of the feature documentary “Seats at the Table.” Directed by Chris Farina, the film depicts a college class which brings together university students with residents of a maximum-security juvenile correctional center through the study of Russian literature.
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Panel discussion to explore eviction policy, community impact
The Wilder School will host an insightful discussion on housing instability and eviction policy featuring Virginia State Sen. Jennifer McClellan and community activists on Thursday, Sept. 26. The event, “Eviction Beyond the Numbers,” will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
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2019-20 Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series to Kick-Off Sept. 30
The 2019-20 season of the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will kick-off on Monday, September 30, with a talk by Norma Riccucci, of Rutgers University at Newark.
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CompassPoint, a new podcast series shares CPP expertise with wide audience
The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy (CPP) has launched CompassPoint, a new podcast series that makes the breadth and depth of CPP faculty expertise easily accessible to a broad audience of citizens, planners, policymakers, investors and businesses.
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More than three in four Virginians see housing affordability as a problem in America today
More than three in four Virginians (78%) see housing affordability as a problem in America today, and almost half (47%) see it as a very serious problem, according to a new statewide poll by the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
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Raskin publishes housing, survivorship studies of cancer patients
Sarah Raskin, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the VCU Wilder School, has co-authored a new study that explores the housing issues experienced by cancer patients and survivors in New York City.
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Scholar-practitioner Gary Hack to deliver Gulak lecture at VCU on Sept. 18
Gary Hack, an eminent scholar-practitioner who writes and advises on large-scale physical planning and urban design, will deliver the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs’ 2019 Morton B. Gulak Lecture in Urban and Regional Planning on Sept. 18.
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Mancini quoted in Boston Globe article
Christina Mancini, Ph.D., an associate professor at the VCU Wilder School, was recently cited in a Boston Globe article about a $14.4 million settlement reached between Dartmouth College and nine women who claimed they were raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by their professors.
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Almost 30 percent of Virginians undecided on which party should control the General Assembly
With every House and Senate seat up for election in November, nearly 30% of Virginians remain unsure of which party should win control of the General Assembly in 2020, according to a new poll by the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
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Wilder School to host talk featuring Richmond 300 Advisory Council
Join the Wilder School for a presentation and panel discussion with members of the Richmond300 Advisory Council working on Richmond’s citywide master plan. Panelists include Wilder School associate professor Damian Pitt and Wilder School alumna and Studio Two Three director Ashley Hawkins (M.P.A. '13).
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Pelfrey featured on live segment of NPR's "OnPoint"
Dr. William Pelfrey, Jr., Ph.D. was recently featured in NPR’s OnPoint during a live segment that contemplated the latest special session on gun control prompted by the mass shooting of Virginia Beach employees on May 31.
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Wilder School presence at PPIA Expo signals commitment to recruiting diverse candidates
VCU Wilder School faculty, staff and alumni mounted a strong showing at the school's first-ever appearance at the PPIA Public Service Expo held in Washington, D.C. on July 14. An annual event for prospective applicants to public policy and international affairs schools and public sector employers, the expo attracted over 400 students and 100 exhibitors from all over the country.
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Wilder School Alumni Networking Breakfast
Join the Wilder School on Thursday, Aug. 15 for a networking breakfast with local alumni from the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness programs who work in law enforcement, public safety and emergency preparedness.
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Center for Public Policy Spotlight: Dietra Trent, Ph.D., Senior Director of Equity Research and Training
Dietra Trent, Ph.D., an alumna of the VCU Wilder School and the former Secretary of Education for Virginia, is the Wilder School's first senior director of equity research and training.
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Public Perception of Guns and Public Safety: Findings from the Wilder School’s Public Policy Polls
As lawmakers prepare for a special session to consider issues of gun safety and possession, the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy revisits what is known about the public’s opinions and perceptions of gun policies and related issues of public safety.
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Wilder School Hosts Dynamic Cohort for First-ever PPIA Public Service Weekend
The Wilder School recently hosted the first-ever PPIA Public Service Weekend for a talented and dynamic cohort of students from all over the country. In total, 24 students from 17 states and 21 universities attended the intensive, three-day experience which focused on the theme “Social Equity in Public Policy Analysis.”
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Barnes publishes study on impact of risk assessment in reducing disparities among juvenile offenders
A new study co-authored by Wilder School assistant professor Ashlee Barnes, Ph.D. suggests that risk assessment may prove helpful in reducing intervention disparities among juvenile offenders.
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Wilder School Selects inaugural cohort of Public Service Weekend
The VCU Wilder School today announced the 24-member cohort of its inaugural Public Service Weekend, a national program that exposes students from underrepresented groups in public service leadership and education to the rewards of a career in the public sector.In total, 24 students from 17 states and 21 universities will attend the intensive, three-day experience.
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Whyte publishes new book on cyberwarfare
“Understanding Cyber Warfare: Politics, Policy and Strategy,” a recent book co-authored by Wilder faculty member Christopher Whyte, Ph.D., offers students the first intermediate primer on the historical and strategic contexts of cyber conflict.
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Class of 2019: Richmond’s resurgence changed this grad student’s trajectory
A passion for Richmond and a fascination with its development led Jennifer Tillett to VCU's urban planning program.
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Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute student workers shine at the Doing REAL poster session
At the Wilder School and across VCU, students are “Making it Real” by applying lessons learned in the classroom to real-world experiences and work opportunities. On April 5, seven undergraduate student workers from the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute (GEHLI) came together to showcase the learning experiences they have had in their roles at GEHLI during the REAL program’s first ever Doing REAL poster session.
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The Inaugural Virginia Government Leadership Summit stood as a Development Program Unlike Any Other
In light of today's complex leadership environment, the Performance Management Group (PMG) within the Center for Public Policy at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs provided an opportunity for deep conversation, candid dialogue, external activities, and a sophisticated examination of self.
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Wilder School Hosts First VCU Public Service Weekend
The Wilder School will host 25 students from all over the nation during the university's first Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Public Service Weekend, June 14-16.
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Wilder School Spring 2019 Graduation Ceremony
The Wilder School graduation is on Saturday, May 11 at 6:00 pm.
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2019 MURP Plan-Off!
This year’s Plan-Off! competition on Friday, May 3, will kick-off a fun-filled evening for Wilder School students, faculty and alumni to gather and learn more about the impact of our Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program on the local and regional community.
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Brubaker Pens New Book, "Theorizing Gender Violence"
Wilder School Associate Professor Sarah Jane Brubaker, has published a new book, “Theorizing Gender Violence," which provides an introduction to critical sociological theories used to understand and respond to gender violence.
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Wilder School faculty and staff work to improve sexual harassment policies in academia
Wilder School faculty members Sarah Jane Brubaker and Brittany Keegan have developed a new framework that aims to prevent sexual harassment in academia. Early adopters of the policy include the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) and the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP).
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2019 Excellence in Virginia Government Honorees Celebrated
More than 250 elected officials, state and local government leaders, business executives and non-profits gathered at the Richmond Marriott to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2019 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards on April 11. The event, which highlighted the achievements of 10 organizations, non-profits, public-private partnerships and individuals who have made significant contributions to Commonwealth communities, was hosted by the VCU Wilder School.
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Wilder School, HOME Sponsoring Housing Equality Conference
On Monday, April 15, the Wilder School and Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia will host the second annual Virginia’s Fair Housing Summit, a daylong conference designed to disrupt the legacy of historic and systemic housing discrimination in our communities.
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Wilder School Soars to No. 39 in Latest U.S. News & World Report
The Wilder School ranks among the top 40 of the nation's best graduate public affairs programs—moving up five places to No. 39 in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings.
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HSEP’s Online Master’s Program Ranked No. 9 in the Nation
The Wilder School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program has been ranked the 9th best online master’s in emergency management program in the nation by Online Master’s.
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Goodwill CEO and Alumnus to Speak at Wilder Graduation
Keith Parker (B.A.'90/H&S; M.U.R.P.'93/GPA), president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, will deliver the keynote address at the Wilder School graduation ceremony Saturday, May 11.
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Virginia Capitol Semester: Life-long Connections and Legislative Experience
In 46 days three Virginia Commonwealth University Seniors have gained experience that will last them a lifetime.
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In Buenos Aires, a VCU Gilman Scholar is Learning How to Build Better Cities
Elias Frantz’s interests in Latin American studies and urban planning have taken him to Argentina, where he is working to help develop a local neighborhood.
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Son of Cold War U-2 Pilot to Speak at Wilder School
The son of the most famous Cold War pilot, Francis Gary Powers Sr., who was shot down in a U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union, will address students during a live talk at the VCU Wilder School at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 11.
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Leading Economic Development Guru to Speak at Doctoral Lecture Series
The Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy will conclude its debut season on Monday, March 18, with a talk by Teresa Córdova, Ph.D., director of the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University Of Illinois at Chicago.
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‘Evicted,’ which revealed impact of national eviction crisis, selected as VCU’s Common Book
“Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” by Matthew Desmond has been selected as the 2019 Common Book for Virginia Commonwealth University. The book, which revolves around eight families—each teetering on the brink of homelessness--dovetails closely with the work of the Wilder School’s RVA Eviction Lab, a key partner in this year's Common Book program.
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Professor Quoted in USA Today Story about Sex Trafficking Victims
Wilder School professor Jay Albanese was quoted in a USA Today article about the victims of human trafficking and prostitution in the U.S. In the article, Albanese, a leading expert on transnational and organized crime and corruption, describes human trafficking “one of the most serious of all crimes.”
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What’s Driving Evictions in Richmond?
The RVA Eviction Lab at VCU’s Wilder School has received a Ford Foundation grant to understand the causes — and the impact — of Richmond’s eviction rate, the second highest in the country.
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Gooden to Join Ryan and Qarni for School Equity Discussion
On March 4, Wilder School Interim Dean Susan Gooden will join UVA President James Ryan and Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni to discuss the history of the educational divide between Richmond’s urban and suburban schools.
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Pitt Appointed to State Solar and Energy Storage Authority
Damian Pitt, Ph.D., chair of the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program and an expert in alternative energy, has been named to the Virginia Solar Energy Development and Energy Storage Authority.
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Faculty and Students Earn Top Honors at ASPA
Five Wilder School faculty and students will receive top honors and distinctions at the Annual American Society for Public Administration Conference. The honors, which recognize outstanding scholarly achievement and career contributions to public service, will be presented during a series of ceremonies held in Washington, D.C., March 8-12.
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Wilder School Announces 2019 EVGA Honorees
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University will honor individuals and organizations who have made noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and the betterment of the state on Thursday, April 11.
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Interim Dean Susan Gooden to be Honored as Outstanding Woman
Susan Gooden, Ph.D., interim dean of the Wilder School, is one of eight recipients of the YWCA Richmond’s 2019 Outstanding Women Awards.
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CPP to Host Brown Bag Panel on Economic Development
Join us on Wednesday, February 20, for a compelling panel discussion on economic development policy, employment and housing initiatives within the Commonwealth.
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Virginians Narrowly Support Public Investment to Land Amazon HQ2
Just under half of Virginians say bringing one of Amazon’s second headquarters to the state will create more benefits than the investment costs, while 41 percent believe the state is investing too much in the deal, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Wilder School to Host Panel About Immigration
The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy will host a panel discussion on Thursday, February 28, that offers first-hand perspectives of the work of some local organizations with immigrants.
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Virginians Evenly Divided on the Idea of Armed Teachers
Virginians are almost evenly split between favoring and opposing a state law that would allow localities to train teachers and administrators to be armed in schools, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Next Wilder School Doctoral Lecture is February 4
Brian Williams, Ph.D., visiting professor of public policy in the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, will be the next speaker in the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy on Monday, February 4.
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2019 EVGA Will Be Held April 11
The Wilder School is pleased to announce the 13th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards (EVGA) on April 11, 2019, at the downtown Richmond Marriott.
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Quarter of Virginians Don’t Know Which Party They Want to Win Control of General Assembly in 2019
With every House of Delegates and state Senate seat up for election this November, and both chambers narrowly held by Republicans, a quarter of Virginians don’t know yet which party they want to control the General Assembly in 2020, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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In 2018 Elections, Plurality of Virginia Voters Focused on Responding to Trump Administration
Though President Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballot in 2018, one-quarter of voters in Virginia’s U.S. Senate and House elections say they made their choices as a response to his administration, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Transit Access for Low-Income Richmond Households Remains an Issue, Even After GRTC Reroute
While recent changes to Richmond’s public bus network have improved the region’s access to retail, business and job centers, transit accessibility for the area’s low-income households remains the same or has decreased, according to a new study by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Wilder School Shares Research at Criminology Conference
The Wilder School made an impactful showing at the annual conference of the American Society of Criminology, held Nov. 14-17 in Atlanta.
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Gov. Northam Makes Budget Announcement at Wilder School
Gov. Northam Makes Budget Announcement at Wilder School
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Wilder School Builds Presence at Leading Policy Conference
A notably diverse sampling of faculty, students and researchers from the Wilder School’s core academic programs and Centers for Public Policy (CPP) traveled to the annual Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Fall Research Conference in Washington, D.C. Overall, nine members of the Wilder School community participated as presenters, exhibitors and hosts of featured conference events.
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Fall Graduation is December 8
The Wilder School’s 2018 fall graduation will take place on Saturday, December 8, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, Exhibit Hall C, starting at 2:30 p.m.
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Wilder School to Participate in VCU 50 Symposium
Higher education leaders, faculty experts and notable Virginia Commonwealth University alumni will gather Friday, November 30, at a daylong symposium marking the 50th anniversary of the merger that created VCU.
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Virginia Executive Institute Grows Leaders and Fosters Connections
For more than two decades, the Performance Management Group within the Center for Public Policy at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs has provided a dynamic forum for leaders of today and tomorrow to examine and enhance their abilities as thinkers, decision makers and leaders.
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Wilder Faculty, Students Attend NAPA Meeting
The Wilder School sent an impressive delegation of faculty and graduate students to the recent 2018 Academy Fall Meeting of the National Academy of Public Administration, whose theme focused on “Grand Challenges in Public Administration.”
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Wilder School Alumna Among This Year’s VCU 10 Under 10
Wilder School alumna Leah Fremouw (B.A.’08/H&S; M.P.A.’10/GPA) is among this year’s VCU Alumni 10 Under 10 award recipients who will be honored this Friday in a special ceremony.
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Student Scholarship Deadline is Nov. 12
Applications for Wilder School undergraduate and graduate scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year are due Monday, November 12.
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Cindy Redcross of MDRC to Speak on Oct. 30
Cindy Redcross, deputy director of MDRC’s Health and Barriers to Employment policy area, will be the next speaker in the Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy on Tuesday, October 30.
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Doctoral Student Receives Research Grant
Dhara Amin, a Wilder School doctoral candidate, has received a prestigious research grant from the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) for her dissertation project, “Students’ Awareness, Knowledge, and Perceptions of Mandatory Reporting of Sexual Victimization on College Campuses.”
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New Wilder Initiative Tracks Richmond's Eviction Epidemic & Effects
A new initiative by two Wilder School Urban and Regional Studies and Planning professors aims to collect data and analyze the chronic eviction problem in Richmond and Virginia.
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Wilder School Makes Strong Showing at NASPAA Conference
Some of the brightest minds in public administration education gathered for the 2018 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration Conference (NASPAA) in downtown Atlanta last week. It was an impressive display of intellectual superstars that included 13 Wilder School faculty and students participants, 11 presenters and one honoree.
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Virginians See Schools as Safe, Look Increasingly to Mental Health Approaches to School Safety
Six months after a shooting rampage left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, a new statewide poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University finds that Virginians increasingly see mental health approaches as important for school safety.
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Scarbrough and Wallace to be Honored at Alumni Volunteer Service Awards
VCU Alumni will recognize two Wilder School graduates—Sarah Huggins Scarbrough and Franklin Wallace—during the university’s Biennial Alumni Volunteer Service Awards this week. The awards, which will be presented during a private dinner and ceremony on Oct. 19, celebrate alumni who have worked with particular devotion to serve the VCU community.
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Majora Carter to Deliver 2018 Gulak Lecture on Oct. 17
Majora Carter, a leading urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer and Peabody Award winning broadcaster, will deliver the Wilder School’s 2018 Morton B. Gulak Lecture in Urban and Regional Planning on Wednesday, October 17, at 7 p.m. in the University Student Commons.
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Wilder School Spotlight: Alumnus Joseph P. Casey, Ph.D.
Joseph P. Casey, Ph.D., earned his Master of Public Administration from the Wilder School in 1995 and his doctorate in 2013. He is county administrator of Chesterfield County, Virginia’s fourth most populous, and has enjoyed an impressive career in public service. He shares his story.
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Wilder Symposium: Modern Challenges to Persistent Inequities
The 2018 Wilder Symposium challenged the public and policymakers to confront inequities in education, housing and transportation in urban communities and make redressing long-standing imbalances a priority.
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Introducing the 2018 Wilder Fellows
This year’s cohort of Wilder Fellows includes 13 promising scholars with diverse backgrounds and research interests. They include recent graduates from highly selective universities including the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia and the University of Leicester.
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Silent Witnesses Speak Loud Message Against Domestic Violence
VCU’s 2018 Silent Witness Exhibit is part of the university’s annual observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This week, Oct. 1-5, the exhibit is on display on the second floor of the James Branch Cabell Library.
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Gooden Joins International Conference on Curbing Inequalities
Susan Gooden, Ph.D., interim dean of the Wilder School and an internationally recognized expert on social equity and public policy, participated in the 5th World Conference on Remedies to Racial and Ethnic Economic Inequality in Brazil.
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Wilder Symposium to Examine the Role of Urban Communities in Improving Housing, Education and Public Policy on Oct. 3
The Wilder School will host a symposium, “"By the People: The Role of Urban Communities in Improving Housing, Education and Public Policy" on Wednesday, October 3, that will provide a robust discussion of the current challenges and opportunities for urban communities as they seek to improve.
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Wilder School Leads Discussion on Kerner Commission 50 Years Later
The 5oth Anniversary of the Kerner Commission Report National Conference drew an audience of nearly 200 and featured a prominent delegation of Wilder School faculty including Governor L. Douglas Wilder, who delivered a keynote address.
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Accordino to Serve as Guest Professor in Germany
John Accordino, Ph.D., FAICP, professor in the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, will be a guest professor at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, during the upcoming winter semester.
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Wilder School, VCU Department of Psychiatry Host Mental Health Mini-University
Policymakers, researchers and the public recognize a need for policies that provide mental health services efficiently and effectively to those who need them, but the complexities of mental illness and the development of new knowledge from research mean legislators may struggle to stay up to date.
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2018 Plan-Off! Offers Two Days of Activities
This year’s Plan-Off! competition on Friday, April 27, will kick off two days of activities for Wilder School students, staff, faculty and alumni to gather and learn more about the impact we have on the community.
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New Doctoral Lecture Series Starts Sept. 18
The Wilder School Doctoral Lecture Series in Public Policy debuts on Tuesday, September 18, with a talk by Naim Kapucu, Ph.D., of the University of Central Florida.
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NASPAA to Honor Jin for Service as Pi Alpha Alpha Adviser
Myung Hun Jin, Ph.D., chair of the Wilder School’s Master of Public Administration program, is the recipient of the 2018 Pi Alpha Alpha Chapter Advisor Award of Excellence from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
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Wilder School Formally Dedicates New Raleigh Building
The Wilder School officially dedicated the renovated Raleigh Building on August 30, celebrating our newest property with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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Forum to Bring Together Policymakers, VCU Experts to Focus on Challenges Facing State Mental Health System
A “Mental Health Mini-University” will bring together policymakers and Virginia Commonwealth University researchers and officials for a discussion on the continued challenges facing the mental health system in Virginia.
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50th Anniversary of Kerner Commission Report National Conference Is Sept. 5-7
The Wilder School is cosponsoring the 50th Anniversary of the Kerner Commission Report National Conference on September 5-7 in Minneapolis, a major colloquium on race relations in America featuring urban leaders, highly accomplished scholars, thought leaders and historical eyewitnesses.
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Top Five Events You Shouldn’t Miss During Welcome Week
Whether you’re a freshman interested in homeland security or a transfer student ready to take on the field of criminal justice, Welcome Week — a series of events hosted throughout the university August 18-26 — will help you get the most out of campus and prepare you for a successful year at VCU.
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VCU Honors Wooldridge with Distinguished Service Award
Wilder School Professor Blue E. Wooldridge, D.P.A., received the university’s 2018 Distinguished Service Award during the 36th annual faculty convocation program held Wednesday, August 22.
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Virginians Support Community-based Treatment Programs for Nonviolent Offenders
More than 8 in 10 Virginians favor letting nonviolent offenders with mental illness participate in community-based treatment programs instead of being sentenced to prison or jail, according to a new statewide poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Majority of Virginians See Community Colleges, Public Universities as Worth the Cost
A majority of Virginians see two-year community colleges and four-year public universities as worth the cost, according to a new statewide poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Wilder School Poll: Police Should Have Ability to Restrict Weapons at Protests, Other Public Demonstrations
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginians favor giving law enforcement the ability to restrict weapons at public protests and other assemblies, according to a new statewide poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Kaine Leads U.S. Senate Race by 23 Points, Wilder School Poll Shows
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine holds a commanding 23-point lead — 49 percent to 26 percent — over Republican challenger Corey Stewart among likely voters in Virginia’s Senate race, according to a new statewide poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Twenty percent of likely voters and 57 percent of independents remain undecided.
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Keegan Helps to Organize Statewide Refugee Mental Health Summit
Brittany Keegan, a Ph.D. candidate in the Wilder School and the research coordinator and Land Use Education Program director in the Center for Public Policy, chaired the organizing committee for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Service’s Fifth Annual Statewide Refugee Mental Health Summit.
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Teresa Wins Award After Being Nominated by Students
Benjamin Teresa, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, is this year’s Virginia Commonwealth University’s faculty winner of the American Planning Association-Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award.
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CURA Maps Indicators of Distress for Richmond’s Northside Neighborhoods
The Wilder School’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis within the Center for Public Policy recently conducted a study to map indicators of distress for Richmond’s Northside neighborhoods.
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Cleary Receives National Honor
Hayley Cleary, Ph.D., assistant professor of Criminal Justice, is this year’s recipient of the Louise Kidder Early Career Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI).
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Center for Public Policy to House Land Use Education Program
The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy is now home to the acclaimed Land Use Education Program, the nation’s first structured training program for people who serve on local planning commissions.
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Susan Gooden Makes History at International Conference
Wilder School Interim Dean Susan Gooden, Ph.D., became the first person from the United States and the fourth woman to deliver the Braibant Lecture at the 2018 Congress of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), held June 25-29 in Tunis, Tunisia.
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Wurie Wins University Award for Faculty Mentorship
Chernoh Wurie, Ph.D., a criminal justice instructor at the VCU Wilder School, has received the university’s highest award for faculty mentorship.
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Alumna and Staffer Heads to Louisville
For more than a decade, Lindsey Evans (M.P.A.’08, Ph.D.’17), a hurricane-force of can-do and personality, has served the Wilder School’s various constituents as a graduate assistant, instructor, program coordinator and research associate. Next week, the Georgia native will depart her beloved alma mater to assume a tenure-track position in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs at the University of Louisville.
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CURA Report Tracks Richmond Region’s Income Growth Pattern
The city of Richmond and the region’s outer counties led the area in the growth of median household income between 2000 and 2016, according to a new report by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Rabdan Academy Offers Unique UAE Study Abroad Experience
For Wilder School students looking for study abroad experiences in destinations less traveled, the VCU Partnership with Rabdan Academy offers semester study in Abu Dhabi, a metropolis situated along the coast of the Arabian Sea which offers a unique perspective on Emirati culture and the Arab-Islamic world.
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HSEP Students Help During Regional DHS Exercise
Four students in the Wilder School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program recently provided support to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 2018 Charlottesville Regional Tabletop Exercise for Institutions of Higher Education (RTTX).
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CURA and SERL Assist with “Project Safe Neighborhood”
Two units of the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy—the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis and the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory—are supporting the Office of the Virginia Attorney General’s “Project Safe Neighborhood,” an effort to help reduce gun and gang violence among local youth.
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Two Wilder School Faculty Receive PeRQ Awards
Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., chair of the Wilder School’s doctoral program, and Benjamin Teresa, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, have received VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund (PeRQ) Awards.
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Gooden Publishes New Research Methods Text
Susan Gooden, Wilder School Interim Dean and Professor, has co-authored “Why Research Methods Matter,” a refreshingly accessible new textbook that hits the sweet-spot between sound, scientific-driven inquiry and the political and economic considerations of real-world evaluation and policymaking. The book, available from Melvin and Leigh Publishing, hits shelves later this month.
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“The Color of Law”: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
The Wilder School and Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia are co-sponsoring a lecture by Richard Rothstein, author of the critically acclaimed book, "The Color of Law," on Wednesday, June 13 at 6 p.m., in VCU's T. Edward Temple Building, 901
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The Latest News from the Wilder School Faculty
Stay up to date on the latest news from the Wilder School faculty.
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Wilder School, German University Exchanging Ideas About Land-Use Challenges
The Wilder School is hosting this week eight students and two professors from the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany as part of the 2018 Trans-Atlantic Development Seminar.
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Diversity Committee’s New Name and New Members Focus on Inclusion
Earlier this month, Wilder School faculty and staff voted to expand the name of an advisory body focused on diversity to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. For the first time in its history, the committee will include students.
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Wilder School Expert: Virginia Should Expand Distributed Solar Energy Usage
Distributed solar energy can provide at least 5 to 10 percent of the nation’s electricity demand, without causing negative impacts to the electrical grid or significant rate increases for consumers, according to new research by a Wilder School expert in alternative energy.
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Gooden Named Interim Dean of Wilder School
Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., professor of public administration and policy, has been named interim dean of the Wilder School, effective Tuesday, May 15.
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Delegate Lamont Bagby to Speak at Wilder School Graduation on May 12
Del. Lamont Bagby of Henrico County will deliver the Wilder School’s graduation address on Saturday, May 12.
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HSEP’s Online Master’s Program Ranked No.10 in U.S
The Wilder School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program has been ranked the 10th best online master’s in emergency management program in the nation by bestcolleges.com.
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Lawmakers, Educators Join Wilder School Discussion About School Safety and Education Policy
The Wilder School convened legislators, public safety officials and educators from across the state at two events on April 23 to examine school safety in Virginia and to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute.
Read more.jpg "Top, left to right: Dhara Amin, Sarah Jane Brubaker and Amy Cook. Bottom, left to right: Christina Mancini, Tammi Slovinsky and Fatima Smith..")
Six Women, Six Approaches to Sexual Violence
This week during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we examine the work of six women at the Wilder School—three faculty members, a Title IX administrator, a former victim’s advocate, and a research analyst from the Department of Juvenile Justice—each,working in diverse ways to end the scourge of sexual violence.
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Wilder School Honors Outstanding Students and Faculty
The Wilder School recently honored outstanding faculty and students during recognition programs for academic, teaching, research, scholarship and mentoring excellence.
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Wilder School Student Wins Prestigious Award
Maya Simpkins, a student in the Wilder School’s Master of Public Administration program, received the prestigious Phillip G. Davies Graduate Student Presentation Award at the 46th Annual Conference of the Association for Ethnic Studies, held last week at VCU.
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Five Area Businesses Win $5,000 Awards at MREI Pitch Panel
Five Richmond-area businesses each won $5,000 in the Metro Richmond Exports Initiative’s pitch panel competition at the group’s annual meeting on Thursday, Jan 25.
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VCU Wilder School, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to Host School Safety Forum
The VCU Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy and the Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security are sponsoring a forum on school safety on Monday, April 23, that will examine how officials can best assess, investigate and resolve potential threats as well as the evolving role of school resource officers.
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Wilder School Students, Graduates Leading Effort to Restore Pump House
The granite gables of the Pump House stretch toward the skies like spires on a cathedral, a Richmond landmark on the north bank of the James River that’s sat unused for nearly 80 years — and Wilder School students and alumni are helping to change that.
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Wilder School Moves Up in National Rankings
The Wilder School moved up 12 places in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, released March 20, for best graduate public affairs program, ranking 44th in the nation.
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Legislative Program Gives Students a Leg-up on the Future
Eight-week internship provides unrivaled access to the Virginia General Assembly and career-making experience for diverse majors.
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Wilder School Students Help Restore the Past, Plan for Future
A monstrous tangle of ivy and kudzu vines clog many pathways and bury much of Historic Evergreen Cemetery under a blanket of neglect. Some tombstones are so worn their names are illegible. Others lay crumbled, shrouded by a towering canopy of trees.
Read more.jpg "L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th Governor of Virginia and a Distinguished Professor was the featured guest of the Wilder School’s Lunch and Learn Zoom presentation on May 19.")
Wilder School to Mount Impressive Showing at National Conference
Thirteen Wilder School faculty and students—including Governor L. Douglas Wilder and ASPA Immediate Past President and Professor, Susan Gooden, Ph.D.—will present more than 20 presentations during the 2018 American Society for Public Administration Conference to be held in Denver, March 9-13. With more than 7,500 members representing every level and function of government and nonprofits, ASPA is the nation's preeminent association for public management.
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Criminal Justice Program Represented at Academy Meeting
The Wilder School was well represented at the 55th annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, held Feb. 13-17 in New Orleans and that drew 1,500 participants.
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ASPA to Honor Governor Wilder with Social Equity Award
L. Douglas Wilder, distinguished professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia’s 66th governor, will receive the American Society for Public Administration Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award at ASPA’s upcoming annual conference in Denver, Colorado.
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Grace E. Harris, Trailblazer and Breaker of Glass Ceilings, Dies at 84
Dr. Grace E. Harris, who retired as a distinguished professor at the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy and was the first African-American woman to serve as the chief academic officer of a four-year public university in Virginia, died on Monday, February 12.
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Wilder School Report Analyzes Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program
During an annual legislative reception hosted last week, First Lady Pam Northam highlighted the findings of two just-completed studies that show the sustained and substantial contribution preservation makes to Virginia’s economy through the incentives of state historic rehabilitation tax credits (RTCs) to repurpose and recycle old buildings.
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Lowery to Receive Award
Patrick Lowery, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Wilder School’s Criminal Justice program, will receive the SAGE Junior Faculty Professional Development Teaching Award during the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
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Graduate Information Session on February 23
Learn about the Wilder School’s graduate programs and how they can help advance your career at the "Why Wilder? Graduate Information Session" on Friday, February 23.
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Wilder Student Helps Chart New Interest Area at ASPA
Sombo Chunda, a doctoral candidate in public policy in administration, is the interim secretary of a new section of the American Society for Public Administration that aims to advance the welfare of more than 1.3 billion Africans by promoting the practice and instruction of public service education on the continent.
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Minority Political Leadership Institute Seeking Participants
The VCU Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, housed in the Wilder School, is recruiting participants for the 2018 Minority Political Leadership Institute.
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Wilder School to Host Panel About Opioid Epidemic on Feb. 6
The Wilder School will hold a panel about the nation’s opioid epidemic on Tuesday, February 6, that will focus on how the deterioration of communities has invited and encouraged drug use and crime.
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Public safety only Virginia program area viewed by majority as efficient in using taxpayer funds
Only one state program area — public safety— is thought of as efficient or very efficient by a majority of Virginians, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Treatment centers, housing for those in opioid recovery supported by large majority of Virginians
A large majority of Virginians support expansion of treatment centers and the use of housing in their own communities for those recovering from opioid use, a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University shows.
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Half of Virginia Adults Would Oppose a Ban on Anthem Protests in Public School Sports
As National Football League players continue to sit or kneel in protest during the national anthem, a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University shows that Virginians are almost evenly divided on whether they would support a rule prohibiting high school athletes from engaging in similar protests.
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Almost half of Virginians want Confederate monuments left in place, remainder split on actions
Virginians are split over what course of action to take with Confederate monuments, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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More Virginia Voters Pulled Lever in Response to Trump Administration than Confederate Monuments
More than one in five voters in Virginia’s recent gubernatorial election say they made their decision in response to the Trump administration, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Wilder School Spotlight: Meet Erna Ruijer
Erna Ruijer is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Utrecht, where she is working on government transparency research with European Union as part of its Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
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Wilder Doctoral Student Selected for National Fellowship
Nathan Teklemariam (M.U.R.P.,'13), a doctoral student whose research examines international economic development and fair housing, has been named a 2018 American Society for Public Administration Founders’ Fellow.
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An Immigrant’s Story of Safety and Opportunity
Mona Elrayah, a second-year student in the Wilder School’s Master of Public Administration program, works with 35 immigrant and refugee students at the STAR after-school program (Strengthening Teens Academically and Recreationally), run by the Tuckahoe YMCA in Henrico County. The program partners with Quioccasin Middle School.
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Governor Wilder to Speak at Wilder School Graduation
L. Douglas Wilder, 66th governor of Virginia and distinguished professor at the school that bears his name, will deliver the Wilder School’s graduation address on Saturday, December 9.
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National Program Offers Pathways for Wilder Faculty
Wilder School faculty members Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., and Meghan Gough, Ph.D., have been tapped to participate in the 2018 Faculty Research Program, a best-in-class boot camp designed to provide holistic support to researchers in academia.The program is helping both scholars to carve out a unique arc in their professional development while reaching new heights in research productivity.
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Two Wilder Advisors to Receive National Citation
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Garcia and Sarah ‘Brianne’ Morrison, advising administrators at the VCU Wilder School, will receive citations from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) at the association’s mid-Atlantic conference held in Dover, Delaware March 21-23.This is the first time in recent history that two VCU advisors were nominated for a NACADA citation of merit from the same school or academic unit.
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City Appoints Pitt to “Richmond 300” Advisory Council
A Wilder School faculty member has been appointed to the advisory council for the city’s new master plan process, Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth.
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Albanese Recognized for Lifetime Contributions to Criminal Justice
Jay Albanese, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Wilder School’s Criminal Justice program, has been honored with the Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime (IASOC) for lifetime contributions to the field.
Read more.jpg "Sheila E. Battle opened the conference, sharing her life-changing experiences with GEHLI's programs.")
HIGHER Ground, Higher Purpose
Three hundred people attended the 11th Annual HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Conference hosted by the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, a division of the Wilder School.
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Wilder School Awards Small Grants for Community-Based Research
Kate Howell, Ph.D., and Sarah Raskin, Ph.D. have been named the recipients of the Wilder School's 2017-2018 Faculty Small Grant Awards. Both were selected for projects that examine critical issues affecting underserved populations in Richmond and the state of Virginia.
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CURA Releases Maps on Income Growth and Socioeconomic Data
Project is Part of an Analysis of the Region’s Residential Real Estate Markets
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HSEP Students, Alumni Involved in Symposium
The Wilder School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program played an active role at the recent 2017 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium.
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Wilder Faculty to Showcase 10 Papers at Global Crime Conference
For the second year in a row, scholars at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will make a significant showing at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology.
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Watch “The People’s Debate “ on Video
”The People’s Debate: Tackling State and National Issues with Your Questions” prompted questions and generated robust discussion about a wide range of issues on the eve of Virginia’s statewide elections.
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MetroView Offers Insights to Richmond Region
Planners and policymakers received an overview about MetroView at a recent forum about the Wilder School’s metro-wide information system.
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Meet Zach Villegas
For Zach Villegas, a criminal justice and homeland security and emergency preparedness double major, balancing three jobs, student leadership and 18 credits is all day's work.
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Wilder Alumni Dominate VCU's 10 Under 10 Awards
Three Wilder School alumni--Ashley Hawkins, LeQuan Hylton and Ryan Rinn--are amongwere recently named among VCU's 10 under 10. The awards honor alumni who have earned their first degree—undergraduate, graduate or professional—from the university within the past decade and who have made important contributions to their community and loyally supported the university
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Wilder School Faculty and Students to Present at APPAM
Several Wilder School faculty and students will travel to Chicago to present their scholarship at the 2017 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference Nov. 2-4. Faculty members Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., Susan Gooden, Ph.D., and doctoral student Tammi Slovinsky are scheduled to present original research at the conference. Doctoral student Dhara Amin will also attend. Amin has been awarded an APPAM Equity and Inclusion Student Fellowship.
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Gooden to lead Kerner journal, conference
Wilder School professor Susan Gooden, Ph.D., is the co-editor of a collection of articles that will mark the semi-centennial of the Kerner Commission Report, which is due out next fall. To celebrate the publication, Gooden is organizing a national conference in Minneapolis September 6-7. Both the journal symposium and the conference are being sponsored by the Russell Sage Foundation.
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“The People’s Debate: Tackling State and National Issues with Your Questions” on Nov. 2
“The People’s Debate: Tackling State and National Issues with Your Questions” will be led by L. Douglas Wilder, former Virginia governor and distinguished professor at the Wilder School, and Robert D. Holsworth, Ph.D., noted political analyst and former dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences at VCU.
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Seven from Wilder School to Present at 2017 NASPAA Conference
Seven Wilder School faculty, students and alumni are set to present a wide-range of topics next week at the 2017 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Conference in Washington, D.C.
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National Community Planning Month is Every Day
October may be National Community Planning Month, but the Wilder School celebrates it every day.
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Meet Pam Spratley
No two days are ever the same for Pam Spratley, a travel coordinator and office services specialist at the VCU Wilder School. Spratley manages a travel portfolio that includes more than 100 faculty, staff and doctoral students during any given semester. Though much of that work is behind-the-scenes, it's a critical role that Spratley enjoys.
Read more.jpg "The VCU Silent Witness Exhibit, open October 6-12, is designed to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence and encourage action to create change.")
Student-run Exhibit Sheds Light on Domestic Violence
Student volunteers from two classes led by Wilder School assistant professor Amy Cook,Ph.D., will stage an exhibit to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence at the James Branch Cabell Library Oct. 12-16. "Silent Witness" will feature life-size wooden silhouettes of Virginians killed by an intimate partner.
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Three Wilder Students Selected for Competitive Policy Workshop
Three Wilder School students--Sombo Chunda, Suparna Dutta and Brittany Keegan--have been selected to participate in the competitive International Young Scholars Workshop in Chennai, India this summer.
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Graduate Information Session on October 20
The Wilder School will host an information session about our graduate programs on Friday, Oct. 20, in the VCU Student Commons.
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Slavery Then, Slavery Now: Class Connects Slave Trade to Human Trafficking
Students from Maureen Moslow-Benway’s "Human Trafficking" course toured Libby Hill, The Devil’s Half Acre and Richmond’s African Ancestral Burial Grounds earlier this month. In a evocative presentation curated by Untold RVA Director Free Egunfemi, the class examined Richmond's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and drew connections to contemporary human trafficking.
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2017 Alumni Star: Gregory H. Wingfield
Greg Wingfield, a MURP graduate, is a senior fellow at the VCU Wilder School and a principal of G.H. Wingfield. He is a nationally recognized expert on economic development and expert services.
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Metro Richmond Exports Initiative Announces the Launch of New Website
The Metro Richmond Exports Initiative has launched its new website, MetroRichmondExports.com
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Wilder School Presents Fall Get-in-Gear Series
Looking for hands-on professional experience before graduation? Join the Wilder School for Get-in-Gear, four informative sessions featuring job and internship opportunities in the public, private and non-profit sectors this fall.
Read more_WEB.jpg "Photo credit: Noah Kalina")
Toni L. Griffin to Deliver Gulak Lecture on Oct. 25
Toni L. Griffin, founder of Urban Planning and Design for the American City, will deliver this year’s Morton B. Gulak Lecture in Urban and Regional Planning on Wednesday, October 25, at 7 p.m. in the University Student Commons. The event is free and open to the public.
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Wilder School Reports Shows Demand for Space by Local Entrepreneurs in Hopewell
A strong demand exists among local entrepreneurs to use a city-owned building in downtown Hopewell as a kitchen incubator, makerspace or co-working space, according to a report by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Virginia Capitol Semester Seeking 2018 Interns
Applications are now open for the state's flagship legislative internship program, Virginia Capitol Semester. Deadline is Oct. 2.
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2017 Class of Wilder Fellows Announced
The Wilder School has announced its 2017 Class of Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellows. This year, eight students will join five host agencies and embark on a journey to apply their talents to issues and organizations that advance the public good.
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Wilder School Celebrates Fresh Faces, Promotions
Four new hires have joined the Wilder School for the 2017-18 academic year and a few others were recently promoted. The new appointments will strengthen the school in a number of its specialty areas, including criminal justice, community engagement and homeland security.
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VCU Poll: Half of Virginians Support Campus Anti-Discrimination Policies Over Unlimited Free Speech
Half of Virginians (50 percent) think colleges and universities should place more emphasis on protecting everyone on campus from discrimination even if doing so means there are negative consequences for voicing one’s opinions, according to a poll released today.
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2017 India Lecture in Democracy and Civil Society is Oct. 9
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, a member of India’s Parliament, former undersecretary general of the United Nations and an award-winning author, will deliver the Wilder School’s 2017 India Lecture in Democracy and Civil Society on Monday, October 9.
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MARTA Internship Provides “One-of-a-Kind Experiences”
Clemens, a first-year student in the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, recently completed a one-of-a-kind internship as the personal intern to the CEO of the nation’s ninth-largest transportation system.
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VCU Poll: 80 Percent of Virginians Support Financial Incentives to Spur Economic Development
A strong majority of Virginians— 80 percent—support the use of tax credits or other financial incentives by the state as an economic development strategy, according to the latest poll released by the Wilder School. But for many, the details of such policies make a big difference in their support.
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Six Events You Shouldn’t Miss During Welcome Week
Whether you're a freshman or a graduate student returning to campus, Welcome Week—a series of events hosted throughout the university August 19-27—will help you get the most out of campus and prepare you for a successful year at VCU. Find out the top six events every incoming VCU student should attend.
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Va. Poll: Majority Say Localities Should Use Taxpayer Resources to Enforce Federal Immigration Laws
A slim majority of Virginians — 55 percent — say local governments should be required to use their resources to enforce federal immigration laws, according to a poll released today.
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Gough Chosen as 2017-2018 Provost Office Faculty Fellow
Meghan Gough, Ph.D., chair of the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, has been selected to receive a 2017-2018 Provost Office Faculty Fellowship for Community Engagement.
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Douglas-Glenn Appointed to Millennial Task Force
Nakeina Douglas-Glenn, Ph.D., director of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at the Wilder School, has been appointed to Gov. Terry McAuliffe's Task Force on Millennial Civic Engagement.
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Northam, Other Virginia Democrats Hold leads in all Three Upcoming Statewide Elections
Democrat Ralph Northam holds a five-point lead over Republican Ed Gillespie among likely voters — 42 percent to 37 percent — in the race to become the next governor of Virginia, according to a poll released today by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Wilder School’s M.P.A. Diversity Plan Cited
The Wilder School's Master of Public Administration program has been recognized by NASPAA, the global accreditor of master’s degree programs in public affairs for efforts to attract and retain a diverse student body.
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Wilder School Among First Recipients of University’s Curriculum Awards
The Wilder School has been awarded $10,000 for the creation of courses that advance students understanding of issues related to diversity and inclusion. The school is among the first recipients of grant funding under the university’s Curriculum Development Awards—an initiative of the Division of Inclusive Excellence.
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McDougle Reappointed to State Board
Robyn McDougle, associate professor of Criminal Justice and director of the Wilder School’s Office of Public Policy Outreach, was recently reappointed to a second four-year term on the Virginia Board on Juvenile Justice by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
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Wilder School Spotlight: Meet Wendy Fewster
Wendy Fewster, a 2016 graduate of the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, is energized about her job as the executive director of Richmond Region Energy Alliance.
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Wilder School Adjunct Nominated for DOD Post
Guy B. Roberts, an adjunct faculty member of the Wilder School who teaches in the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program, will be nominated as an assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs in the Department of Defense.
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Wilder School, VCU School of Medicine Receive PeRQ Fund Award
In a first collaboration of its type between the two schools, the Wilder School’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis and the VCU School of Medicine have received a Presidential Research Quest Fund award.
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Wilder School, HOME Sponsoring Housing Equality Conference Sept. 22
The Wilder School and Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia will sponsor a daylong conference on Friday, September 22, that will bring together planners, government officials, nonprofit advocates and other housing officials to hear from local and national experts about affirmatively promoting equitable access to opportunity in our communities.
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Wilder School Study Finds Affordable Housing Not Located Near Available Jobs in the Richmond Region
A new report issued by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University finds that affordable housing isn’t located near available jobs in the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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Fellowship Provides First-Hand Experience for Wilder Student
Eric Barton (H&S ‘13), a second-year public administration student, has been selected to participate in an intense eight-week internship within the state’s executive branch.
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Wilder School Hosts German Planning Students
For the fourth year, students from the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany recently spent a week with their counterparts at the Wilder School learning about the American planning system.
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The Wilder School Bids Farewell to John Mahoney
On June 30, John Mahoney, Ph.D., a longtime administrator, associate professor and assistant dean for undergraduate academic affairs at the Wilder School will retire. His departure will conclude a career spanning more than three decades—including 34 years in higher education and 29 years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves.
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Brubaker Receives Inaugural Mentorship Award
Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., an associate professor and chair of the Wilder School’s Public Policy and Administration program, has received the first-ever Kathleen S. Lowney Mentoring Award.
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Balestrieri Recognized for Work in Richmond City's Jail Library
Blythe Bowman Balestrieri, associate professor of criminal justice at the Wilder School, was recently featured for her work as a law librarian at the Richmond City Justice Center.
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Wilder School Study Links City Hall Performance to Key Departments
A new Wilder School study commissioned by Mayor Levar Stoney finds a retool of key departments is needed to improve the performance quality of Richmond’s City Hall.
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Virginia Executive Institute: Building Leaders
The Wilder School's Virginia Executive Institute is the premier leadership development program for leaders in Virginia government from all branches and regions—executive, judicial and legislative, as well as universities, independent state agencies and local government from across the commonwealth.
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Wilder Fellows Take on State Challenges
Inside meetings with career policy analysts, administrators and statisticians, Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellows tackle issues confronting some of the commonwealth’s largest and most impactful agencies.
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Gooden Invited to International Conference
Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., professor of public administration and policy, has been invited to attend an international conference in the Netherlands cosponsored by the United Nations that celebrates public servants’ contributions to sustainable development.
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Gough Leads Recent Partnership Grant
Meghan Gough, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Planning and Studies program, is the primary investigator on a grant received from the VCU Council for Community Engagement to support the development of a new university-community partnership that will investigate, “Asset-Based Community Development: A Model for Community Strengthening.”
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Dean to Deliver Wilder School’s Graduation Address
Dean John Accordino,Ph.D., FAICP, will deliver the Wilder School’s graduation address on Saturday, May 13.
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Wilder School Study Shows that Heritage Tourists Spend $7.7 Billion A Year
Heritage tourism is an important driver of Virginia’s economy, generating almost $7.7 billion a year, according to a study by the Wilder School commissioned by Preservation Virginia.
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Meet Christina Mancini
Christina Mancini, Ph.D., is an expert on sexual violence, campus rape, sexual assault policy and the role of public opinion in shaping public safety.
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Wilder School Honors Outstanding Students
The Wilder School recognized outstanding students for their academic, leadership and public service achievements at an awards program at the VCU Student Commons on Thurs., April 20.
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Suen Coauthors Economic Impact Study of the James River Park System
A study conducted by a Wilder School associate professor and a VCU psychology associate professor on behalf of the Friends of the James River Park has found that the James River Park System has a positive impact on the city of Richmond, with every dollar in the park’s budget generating more than $60 in visitor spending.
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Wilder School Presents Insights on the Virginia Economy
Virginia lawmakers and business leaders met at the state Capitol to hear from Wilder School economic policy experts, industry representatives and top public officials to examine key issues facing the commonwealth’s changing economy.
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2017 Faculty Recognition Awards
Five Wilder School faculty have been honored for their outstanding work and commitment to students.
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Plan-Off to be Held April 21
The sixth annual Plan-Off will take place on Friday, April 21, with students in the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program presenting their ideas for a better community.
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M.U.R.P. Student Lands Prestigious Internship
Pavneet Kaur, a second-year student in the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, is the recipient of a competitive summer internship at a leading international producer of mapping and spatial analytic software.
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Rissler Receives Award for Paper
The Virginia Social Science Association has honored Grant Rissler, a doctoral candidate in Public Policy and Administration program at the Wilder School
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Watch the Town Hall Video Online
The Wilder School’s Town Hall—"Popular Politics, Populism and Donald Trump: Who Are ‘We the People’?"—drew a full crowd to Grace Street Theater on March 22 and generated two hours of robust, insightful discussion between the panelists and audience.
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Board of Visitors Meets Outstanding Wilder School Students
Two outstanding Wilder School students were introduced to the VCU Board of Visitors at a special reception this week.
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Faculty, Students Well Represented at National Conference
The Wilder School boasted an impressive contingent at the 2017 American Society for Public Administration Conference (ASPA), with Professor Susan Gooden, Ph.D. presiding as the association's 75th president and 16 faculty, student and alumni presentations.
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Wilder School Takes Center Stage at ASPA Conference
Nearly 1,300 scholars and practitioners from across the nation will gather in Atlanta for the 2017 American Society of Public Administration Conference this week, and the Wilder School will have a towering presence at the country’s preeminent conference for public management.
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Gooden Receives Research Award
Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., professor of public administration and policy at the Wilder School, has received a $50,000 presidential research award from the Russell Sage Foundation
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Wilder School Students Learn Legislative Lessons
During the recent General Assembly, Wilder School students and VCU women’s basketball players Ashley Pegram and Isis Thorpe learned first-hand the similarities between hoops and politics.
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John Accordino Named Dean of the Wilder School
After a rigorous national search, Virginia Commonwealth University has named John Accordino, Ph.D., as dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, effective March 1.
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Wilder School to Host Town Hall on March 22, "Popular Politics, Populism and Donald Trump: Who Are ‘We the People’?"
Join the Wilder School at a town hall on Wednesday, March 22, at the Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St., from 7–9 p.m. The town hall--Popular Politics, Populism and Donald Trump: Who Are ‘We the People’?-- will offer a community conversation about today’s political climate, leadership, the nation’s changing electorate and how citizens can get involved.
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City Partnering with Wilder School for Performance Review
The Wilder School will be assisting with the comprehensive performance review of all agencies in Richmond City Hall, which Mayor Levar M. Stoney has cited as his top priority among the initiatives of his first 100 days.
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Wilder School Students Receive Black History in the Making Award
Five Wilder School students were among those who received the annual Black History in the Making award at a ceremony on Wed., Feb. 15, hosted on by the Department of African American Studies.
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Meet Maureen Moslow-Benway
Maureen Moslow-Benway joined the Wilder School faculty in 2007, following a storied 20-year intelligence career that included roles as as a special agent in the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and as a national security consultant and manager for Booz Allen Hamilton. In her spare time, she's an extreme athlete with a record of more than 100 competitive races.
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Criminal Justice Lecture to Present Terrance Hake of “Operation Greylord” on Feb. 28
The Wilder School’s Criminal Justice program will present, “Putting Corruption Out of Business: An Insider’s View of Operation Greylord,” featuring Terrance Hake on Tues., Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salons III-IV.
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Eta Lambda Sigma Offers Students Tips, Trips and Tours
The Wilder School’s chapter of Eta Lambda Sigma, the nation’s first professional homeland security and emergency management fraternity, has had a busy winter.
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VCU terrorism expert: Trump’s travel ban hands ISIL a powerful recruiting tool
William Pelfrey, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of homeland security and emergency preparedness comments on President Trump's executive order on Friday.
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2016-17 Commonwealth Education Poll: Higher Ed
In the latest Commonwealth Education Poll, a majority of respondents say Virginia colleges and universities are doing a good job providing students with skills to succeed in the workplace and beyond.
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2016-17 Commonwealth Education Poll: K-12
As the General Assembly makes critical decisions about education policy in the state, a recent poll by the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute shows that Virginians from all geographic regions overwhelmingly support the redesign of Virginia’s high schools.
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2017 Public Policy Poll: Public Safety, Substance Use and Mental Health
The recent 2017 Public Policy Poll: Public Safety, Substance Use and Mental Health—conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University—found strong support for providing treatment to opioid users.
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2017 Public Policy Poll: Economic Development and Workforce Training
The 2017 Public Policy Poll: Economic Development and Workforce Training—conducted by the Center for Public Policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University—found strong support for continued funding for workforce training and development.
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New report details VCU’s economic and cultural impact
Virginia Commonwealth University generates nearly $6 billion in economic activity and supports 63,000 jobs in Virginia, according to a new report by the Wilder School’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis that examines VCU’s economic and cultural impact.
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Wilder Student, Alum Chosen as ASPA Founders' Fellows
Yali Pang, a doctoral candidate at the Wilder School, and Javon Davis, who graduated in May with a Master of Public Administration, are among 25 students and new professionals nationally who have been selected as 2017 Founders’ Fellows by the American Society for Public Administration.
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Wilder Student Receives Top Zambia Prize
Sombo Chunda, a first-year master’s student and champion for financial management and private sector accountability, has been awarded Zambia’s highest prize for civil service. Chunda received the award for an innovative collaboration between the mining sector, the Zambian government and 16 civil society organizations operating within the nation’s Copperbelt.
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Brubaker, Cleary Receive Grant
Two Wilder School Criminal Justice faculty members have received a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to examine perceptions of safety and levels of engagement among staff and residents in state juvenile correctional centers under a new community treatment model.
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Wilder School Alumnus to Address Graduation
Felix Sarfo-Kantanka Jr., Virginia’s deputy secretary of administration who earned his master’s in public administration in 2001 from the Wilder School, will deliver the graduation address on Saturday.
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Graduate Information Session on March 10
The Wilder School will host an information session about our graduate programs on Friday, March 10, in the VCU Student Commons.
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GEHLI to host minority impact analysis talks
On November 18, members of the 2016 Class of the Minority Political Leadership Institute (MPLI) will offer a series of presentations on legislation affecting minority communities in Virginia.
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Meet Grant Rissler
With more than 17 years of service working with and on behalf of vulnerable communities, Grant Rissler, a doctoral candidate in public policy and administration at the Wilder School, is giving back through a life of consequence.
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Faculty, doctoral students receive NECoPA best paper award
Youth development programs provide a support system on which underserved adolescents can rely on and facilitate successful transition to adulthood, but what works? An award-winning study authored by four researchers at the Wilder School offers one strategy.
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Wilder School Announces 2016 EVGA Honorees
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University will honor individuals and organizations who have made noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and the betterment of the state on Wed., Nov. 30.
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2016 Metro Poll Looks at Race Relations and Police in Richmond Area
The Wilder School's Center for Public Policy has released the results of a poll conducted in the spring that found that a majority of Richmond-area residents saw race relations in the U.S. as a major problem and that race relations have grown worse over the past five years.
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Domestic Violence Exhibit Visits VCU Oct. 10-14
To help educate students and community members about the scourge of domestic violence—a crime that accounted for at least a third of domestic female homicides in 2014—Amy Cook,Ph.D., an assistant professor at the VCU Wilder School is organizing an exhibit to make it real.
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Student Honored with VCU’s 2016 LGBT Burnside Watstein Award
Tolliver 'Lucky' Turner, a senior majoring in criminal justice, was recently honored with the 2016 Burnside Watstein Award for his contributions to VCU’s LGBTQIA community.
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Faculty and staff to offer campus solutions
Join us on Thursday, Oct. 6 as GEHLI presents the VCU Leadership Development Class of 2016. Experience five thought-provoking presentations and countless engaging ideas - all in one day!
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Wilder Symposium to be held Monday, October 17
This fall’s Wilder Symposium on Race and American Society will examine the legacies of the landmark Kerner Commission report to then-President Lyndon B. Johnson following the riots in 1967, and what they mean for race and ethnic relations in the United States today in an open, frank and full discussion.
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Wilder School Announces 11th Class of Wilder Graduate Scholars’ Fellowship
The Wilder School is pleased to announce the selection of seven Wilder Graduate Scholars' Fellows for the 2016-17 academic year.
Read more.jpg "Paula Gulak, center, with daughter, Misha, and son, Loren. (Bottom) Morton B. Gulak, Ph.D.")
Meet Paula Gulak
Paula Gulak and her family honor her late husband, Morton B. Gulak, Ph.D., through a lecture series that continues the legacy of the longtime professor who helped found the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program.
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Smither Receives Outstanding Teaching Award
James Smither, an instructor in the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Studies/Planning program, is honored by the Virginia chapter of the American Planning Association.
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Career Services to Offer Personal Branding Event
Join the Office of Career Services on Fri., Sept. 30, for “Building Your Brand,” a unique program designed for Wilder students.
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Wilder School Presents Get in Gear Employer Series
Gain hands-on experience from an internationally recognized police department. Join the VCU Police Department on Sept. 27, for the first installment of Get in Gear, a series of sessions designed to foster relationships between Wilder students and prospective employers.
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Library Exhibits Wilder School Planning Posters
October is National Community Planning Month, and the Wilder School is pleased to share work by students in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program in a special exhibit on the first floor of Cabell Library.
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Training for a Purpose: Student Basic Jailor Academy
Unique university-community collaboration allows Wilder School students to earn college credit and work part-time as certified correctional deputies in Henrico County jails.
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OSS to host two info sessions for legislative internship
The Office of Student Success will host two information sessions for the Virginia Capital Semester program Sept. 22-23. Join us!
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Meet Chernoh Wurie
Chernoh Wurie, Ph.D., was 16 when rebel bandits entered his home in Sierra Leone and held his family at gunpoint. That incident fueled a career in policing that would eventually lead to the classroom.
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Wilder School's CURA Leads Exports Effort
After nearly two years of work, the long-awaited Metro Richmond Exports Initiative has been released.
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Sara Zewde to Deliver Gulak Lecture on Oct. 26
Sara Zewde, a leading expert in landscape architecture and design, will deliver this year’s Morton B. Gulak Lecture in Urban and Regional Planning on Wed., Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. in the University Student Commons.
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Wilder School’s M.P.A. Program Receives Award
The Wilder School’s Master of Public Administration program will receive the Social Equity Award from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration at its annual conference in October.
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From Richmond to Italy: Planning Across Cultures
Wilder School students took their studies about urban revitalization from the James River region to the Straits of Messina during a study-abroad program this summer.
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Wilder School to Host Welcome Week Events
The Wilder School will host two events for current and incoming students on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
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Metro Richmond Export Initiative to be Unveiled Sept. 8
The Metropolitan Richmond Export Initiative will be unveiled on Thurs., Sept. 8, in Chesterfield County.
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Mancini to Moderate Webinar on Title IX and Campus Sexual Assault
Christina Mancini, Ph.D., associate professor of Criminal Justice, will moderate a free webinar that will analyze the problem of sexual assault on college and university campuses on Thurs., Aug. 25, at 2 p.m.
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Perkins Recognized at International Workshop
Michael Perkins, a Wilder School doctoral candidate in public policy and administration, received an honorable mention for Best Presentation Award at the Fifth Annual International Young Scholars Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa.
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Trent Named Virginia Secretary of Education
Wilder School alumna Dietra Trent (M.P.A. ’95/Ph.D. ’07) has been appointed Virginia’s newest Secretary of Education.
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Wilder School Mourns Keith Ready
Keith Ready, Ph.D, dedicated almost four decades of his life to teaching and mentoring students.
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Alumnus to Assume New Administrative Post in Henrico
Anthony Romanello (M.P.A.’93) has been named deputy county manager for administration Henrico County.
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Albanese, Gooden to Receive University’s Top Honor
Two Wilder School professors—Jay Albanese, Ph.D., and Susan Gooden, Ph.D.,—have been selected as recipients of the 2016 Distinguished Faculty Awards, the campus’ most prestigious honor for teaching faculty.
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Meet Danielle Shutt
When Danielle Shutt, a Lynchburg-born poet, artist and competitive runner, is not preparing for her next marathon or crafting her first manuscript, she is hard at work at Virginia Commonwealth University—where she spends her days as a fiscal officer for the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy (CPP).
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Mancini Offers Title IX Expertise
Christina Mancini, Ph.D., in a recent article discussed a $2.48 million payout to end a sexual assault lawsuit against the University of Tennessee
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Blue Wooldridge Presents on Development in Africa
Blue Wooldridge, DPA, professor of public administration, spoke at the Consortium of International Management Policy and Development annual meeting and conference.
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John Accordino to Become Interim Dean
John Accordino, Ph.D., FAICP, director of the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA), will become the interim dean of the Wilder School effective Friday, July 1.
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RTD Honors Greg Wingfield
Greg Wingfield, senior fellow at the Center for Regional and Urban Analysis, is recognized for his contributions to Richmond.
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Hatcher, Townsend Receive Prestigious Governor’s Fellowship
Wilder School students Brandon Hatcher and Cainan Townsend have been tapped for the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program, a prestigious internship that pairs students with top state officials.
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Hoops for Hope: Mo Alie-Cox and Torey Burston Bring Inspiration to Inmates and Their Sons
Wilder School students Mo Alie-Cox and Torey Burston shared their basketball skills and a message of hope with fathers and sons at the Richmond jail.
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Wilder School Cohosts Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
For the second consecutive year, the Wilder School is cohosting the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
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Cleary Receives PerQ Award
Hayley Cleary, Ph.D., assistant professor of Criminal Justice, has received a grant from the VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund.
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Gooden Among Gubernatorial Appointments
Susan Gooden, Ph.D., is among recent gubernatorial appointments with ties to the Wilder School.
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Shajuana Isom-Payne Coauthors Book Chapter, Makes Presentation
Shajuana Isom-Payne, director of student success, has coauthored a chapter, “Constructivist approaches to counseling children,” with D.M. Gibson that appears in the book, “Counseling children and adolescents: Connecting theory, development and diversity.”
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Christina Mancini Coauthors Article, Quoted
Christina Mancini, Ph.D., associate professor of Criminal Justice, recently coauthored an article, “Mandatory Reporting (MR) in Higher Education/College Students’ Perceptions of Laws Designed to Reduce Campus Sexual Assault,” in Criminal Justice Review.
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Trisha Rhodes Gives Presentation
Trisha Rhodes, Ph.D, assistant professor of Criminal Justice, gave a presentation about "Policing in Schools: Culture at a Crossroads" at the Inaugural Education Law and Policy Symposium on May 17, which was cosponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and the VCU School of Education. She discussed research on how police officers transition into school settings, and how findings from this work show promise for the success of SRO programs.
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Blue Wooldridge Participates in Two Events
Blue Wooldridge, D.P.A., professor of public administration, convened a meeting on May 13 of the Standing Panel of Social Equity, which he chairs, at the National Academy of Public Administration on the topic, "Promoting Society Equity Using Evidence-Based Practices."
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Henry Brownstein Coauthors Chapter in Publication
An chapter co-authored by Henry Brownstein, Ph.D., associate dean for research and director of the Center for Public Policy, was included in a new publication that was recently released. "Drug Production in Rural Context," coauthored with Ralph A. Weisheit, appeared in The Routledge International Handbook of Rural Criminology, edited by Joseph F. Donnermeyer.
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Amy Cook Offers Expertise on Gangs
Amy Cook, Ph.D., assistant professor of Criminal Justice, was interviewed by WTVR-TV on May 11 for a story about three alleged gang members who were arrested in Chesterfield County for allegedly recruiting children. Cook, who used to work in the juvenile justice system, said gang participation often leads to criminal behavior.
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Wilder School Launches New Website
We’ve redesigned our website, completely overhauling its look and feel. Bold, bright colors and an open design help tell our story clearly.
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Wilder School Ph.D. Profiles
Meet the three Wilder School May graduates who received their doctoral degrees: Jose Alcaine, Katherine Hall and LeQuan Hylton.
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Meet Luanda Fiscella
Luanda Fiscella, 30, took more than a gap year before college; she took a decade.
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Meet Richard Huff
Richard Huff, Ph.D., sees public administration in action all around him.
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Meet Nick Garcia
Nick Garcia is a senior academic adviser in the Undergraduate Advising Office of the VCU Wilder School.
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Meet Robyn McDougle
Robyn McDougle is the faculty director of the university’s first Office of Public Policy Outreach.
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Meet Simon Okoth
Simon Okoth is the recently appointed director of graduate studies at the VCU Wilder School.
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Meet Meghan Gough
Meghan Gough is an associate professor and chair of the urban and regional planning program at the VCU Wilder School.
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Meet Jim Keck
Jim Keck, a veteran who was lured away from retirement by the Wilder School in 2009, has more than three decades of senior administrative experience.
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Meet Greg Wingfield
Before he was a titan of economic development, Greg Wingfield (B.S., ’74, MURP, ’76) was something else—a VCU student with boundless potential.
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Pelfrey to be a Visiting Fellow at the Max Planck Institute
William V. Pelfrey Jr., Ph.D., chair of the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program and associate professor, has been named a Visiting Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
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Meet Jim Williams
Jim Williams, chief of the Staunton Police Department, is entering his 31st year in law enforcement.
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Meet Bonnie Gail Mani, Ph.D
When Bonnie Gail Mani initially enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University in the 1970s, she was pursuing a Master of Music degree with the intent to teach at the college level.
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Meet Mo Alie-Cox
It would be impressive for any college student to earn his undergraduate degree in just three years. But for Mo Alie-Cox, graduating in three years is downright masterful.
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Meet Tina Braden
If you work at the Wilder School, you know Tina Braden. The Wilder School’s personnel administrator and building manager, she handles everything from payroll to preparing a new employee to start work to overseeing the maintenance of the school’s seven buildings.
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Moran to Speak at Wilder School Graduation
Brian J. Moran, Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, will deliver the commencement address at the Wilder School’s graduation ceremony this Saturday.
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Meet Shajuana Isom-Payne
Shajuana Isom-Payne, director of student success at the VCU Wilder School, has a message for students: It’s a new brand world. »
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Meet Jim Smither
As an instructor in the Wilder School’s Urban and Regional Studies/Planning program, Jim Smither blends his skills as a fine artist, landscape architect, urban planner and urban designer to teach the broad principles of illustration and design in the study of place.
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Meet Jill Gordon
In January, Jill Gordon, a twenty-year veteran of the university, became the new associate dean for faculty and academic affairs. Gordon is responsible for supporting a range of activities that support teaching including professional development, promotion and tenure processes, faculty and student awards. »
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2019 Excellence in Virginia Government Honorees Celebrated
More than 250 of the most distinguished voices in Commonwealth governance gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the recipients of the 2019 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards on April 11. The awards, which recognized the achievements of 10 organizations, non-profits, public-private partnerships and individuals who have made significant contributions to Commonwealth communities, was hosted by the VCU Wilder School.
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Blythe A. Bowman
Dr. Blythe A. Bowman’s intellectual journey brought her to the crossroads of classics and criminal justice.
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Susan ‘Su’ Williams
If you don’t know Su Williams, then you haven’t met the maestro. For nearly a decade, Williams has served as the senior fiscal manager at the Wilder School where her work touches nearly every aspect of the school’s academic ensemble.
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Meet Sun Melissa Jun
Sun Melissa Jun lives by the words she spoke at the Wilder School’s spring graduation: “Passion and enthusiasm really can bring a person far in life.”
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Four Wilder School Faculty Members Receive Promotions
The Board of Visitors has approved the promotion or tenure for four Wilder School faculty members:
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Wilder School Soars to No. 39 in Latest U.S. News & World Report
The Wilder School ranks among the top 40 of the nation's best graduate public affairs programs—moving up five places to No. 39 in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings.
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MURP Student Receives NOAA Fellowship
Alex Kuttesch, a graduating student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, has been named a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Management Fellow.
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MURP Students Offer Real Solutions to Real Challenges
Laura Howell, a student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, won this year’s Plan-Off! competition for her proposal about promoting heritage tourism in Henrico County.
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Susan Gooden Selected to Serve on Panel
Susan Gooden, Ph.D., professor of public administration and policy, has been selected to serve on a National Academy of Public Administration panel for the academy’s study for the Indian Health Service to develop a strategic plan for the Urban Indian Health Program.
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Cybersecurity symposium
The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy (CPP) will host “A CPP Symposium on Cyber-threats and Security” on Thursday, April 23. The event will be held at the Academic Learning Commons located at 1000 Floyd Avenue at 8:00 a.m.
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Plan off! 2015
Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School will host the fourth annual “VCU Plan-Off!!,” a unique twist on May Madness on Wednesday, May 6.
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The Wilder School is cohosting 25 Mandela Washington Fellows who represent a cross-section of Africa
VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, in partnership with the Global Education Office, is hosting 25 civic leaders this summer who are here through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
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CURA@VCU Partners with Urban Land Institute
The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is partnering with the Urban Land Institute’s local chapter to provide a comprehensive look at development in the region.
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Alumna hones skills in local jails
Last summer, Ayad joined the ranks of more than 100 emerging law enforcement professionals who have participated in the Student Basic Jailer Academy, a unique program designed to provide students with a meaningful experiential opportunity within Henrico County’s Department of Corrections.
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Eleventh Annual Excellence in Virginia Government Awards
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University has extended the nominations deadline for the 11th annual Excellence in Virginia Government Awards (EVGA) to Fri., Aug. 14.
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MURP Student Honored as “Big Picture Thinker”
A second-year student in the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program, Busching wants to find a solution to keeping rural areas economically vibrant and viable.
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Two Wilder School faculty receive $400,000 grant to study public corruption
Two Criminal Justice faculty members at Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs have received a $400,000 federal research grant to study public corruption.
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Bicycle Urbanism Symposium II
Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will host Bicycle Urbanism Symposium II, September 28-29.
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Two wheels, two days: Wilder School to host international cycling symposium
With less than 60 days to the UCI Road World Championships in September, Damian Pitt, an assistant professor of urban and regional studies at the VCU Wilder School, says all eyes are on Richmond.
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Manhattan Institute Awards Research Grant to Susan Gooden
Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., professor of public administration and policy at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, has received a research grant of $364,196 to conduct an evaluation of the life outcomes of participants in nonprofit organizations focused on engaging disadvantaged youth from poor and minority communities.
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Thadani selected to present third annual Gulak lecture.
Dhiru A. Thadani, AIA, award-winning consultant, architect, urbanist and educator, will present the third annual Morton B. Gulak Urban and Regional Planning Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 8.
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VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll shows Virginians favor Youngkin over Biden for president
In a hypothetical political showdown between Virginia Governor Youngkin and President Biden, a new Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University unveils an unexpected preference among Virginians. Youngkin's rising approval, contrasted with a divided sentiment on Biden, portrays a complex picture.
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Students bring awareness to domestic violence through exhibit
To help bring visibility and awareness to the issue of domestic violence–a crime that constituted nearly 36 percent of all Virginia homicides in 2013 and affects an estimated 12 million Americans annually–students from one class are collaborating with VCU Libraries and the Wellness Resource Center to present a traveling memorial.
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Dr. Bonnie Gail Mani to speak at VCU
Bonnie Gail Mani, Ph.D., the VCU Wilder School’s first female doctoral graduate and professor of political science at East Carolina University, will share lessons and best practices for a career in academia on Mon., Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. in the Forum Room on the first floor of the VCU Student Commons.
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Greater Richmond Exports Initiative: Research Results Briefing
Exports present a tremendous growth opportunity and should be a larger part of the Richmond region’s economic development efforts, according to research conducted by the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Greater Richmond Partnership.
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Homeland Security and Emergency Management in Action
Join the Wilder School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program and the Center for Public Policy for a day-long symposium on Thurs., Oct. 29, that will focus on three high-profile issues.
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Alumni Star: Keith T. Parker, AICP
Keith T. Parker, a Wilder School MURP graduate, leads the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and is a nationally recognized leader in the public transit industry.
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Jill Gordon to Become Wilder School’s Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs
Jill Gordon, Ph.D., the chair of the Wilder School’s Criminal Justice program since 2011, will become the associate dean for faculty and academic affairs effective January 1.
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Accepting Nominations for the 2016 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University is accepting nominations for the 12th annual Excellence in Virginia Government Awards.
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Four Wilder Students Receive “Black History in the Making Awards”
Each year, members of the Virginia Commonwealth University community cap off the celebrations and remembrances of Black History Month with a special awards ceremony that recognizes the contributions of emerging African-American leaders.
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New website offers a ‘Metro View’ of Richmond community
A new interactive website developed by the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at Virginia Commonwealth University offers an in-depth look at the metropolitan Richmond area that cuts across the boundaries of local governments.
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Dr. Grace Harris, one of the most highly regarded women in higher education, has retired as a distinguished professor of public policy at the leadership institute that bears her name.
Dr. Grace E. Harris, one of the most highly regarded women in higher education, has retired as a distinguished professor of public policy at the leadership institute that bears her name
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Public supports reforms in juvenile justice, parole, sex offender registry and firearm possession
With the General Assembly in its biannual budget session, many policymakers are focused on public safety reforms as an avenue to not only enhance the equity of the criminal justice system but also to ensure its fiscal efficiency.
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GEHLI to host 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference
The 10th Annual HIGHER Ground Women's Leadership Conference will take place at the Richmond Marriott, on Friday, Jan. 29
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Public shows strong support for public safety agencies throughout Virginia
A new Virginia Commonwealth University poll shows strong support for law enforcement across Virginia amid heightened public scrutiny of policing nationwide.
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HSEP Students Volunteer at Symposium
Nine students from the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program — six graduate and three undergraduate — assisted at the 2016 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium, held March 29-April 1, the theme of which was “Explore the Possibilities.
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Fulbright scholar to lecture on crime in the Caribbean
Richard Bennett, Ph.D., a senior Fulbright Scholar and professor of justice, law and society at American University, will present a lecture on crime and security in the Caribbean at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs next month.
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Plan-Off 2016! – Real Challenges, Real Solutions
The Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) students will face off in the fifth annual Plan-Off on Friday, April 29.
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Mission Possible: Eta Lamba Sigma Visits Washington
During spring break, Maureen Moslow-Benway, a Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness instructor, accompanied 14 members of Eta Lambda Sigma on a two-day trip to Washington, D.C.
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Plan-Off & Pub
Join us on Friday, May 3, as students from the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program present their ideas for a better community in the annual Plan-Off competition.
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Wilder School to host U.S. Ambassador to India
Richard R. Verma, the United States ambassador to India, will speak on campus Thursday, March 17, as part of the Wilder School’s India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society’s 2016 Ranjit Sen Memorial Lecture.
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Center for Public Policy to host symposia in March, April
The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy will hold a symposium on Thursday, April 14, that will explore terrorism and radicalization in an open society.
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Wilder School members to receive diversity and inclusion awards
Three outstanding faculty and staff members at the Wilder School will be honored at the university’s 2016 Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME) next month.
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Pitt to moderate at clean energy dialogue
Join VCU Wilder School faculty and students for the “VA Power Dialog: A Conversation on Clean Energy,” on Friday, April 8.
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Gordon, Albanese Recognized As Outstanding Mentors
Two Criminal Justice faculty members received the 2016 Outstanding Mentor Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences during its recent conference in Denver.
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Center for Public Policy to host symposium April 14
The Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy will hold a symposium on Thursday, April 14, that will explore terrorism and radicalization in an open society.
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Airbnb and the Barter Economy: What’s the Future in Virginia?
The barter economy and how Virginia will treat or authorize these types of real estate “businesses” is a hot topic of debate in the General Assembly.
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Employer showcase to feature U.S. State Department bureau
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs(IIP) will host a virtual information session on Thursday, April 21.
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Special journal issue dedicated to David Farmer
An entire issue of the International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior (IJOTB) was recently dedicated to David John Farmer, Ph.D.
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Wilder Students, Faculty Honored for Outstanding Work
Students and faculty at the Wilder School were recently honored for their outstanding work and contributions.
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Showcase to feature National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
The NGA, which delivers world-class intelligence to policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals and first responders, will be available to connect with students for career and paid internship opportunities from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Scherer Hall, Room 401.
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CURA Receives Grants from The Community Foundation and Virginia Association of Realtors
The Wilder School’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA) has received grants from The Community Foundation and the Virginia Association of Realtors to study the balance of jobs and housing in the Richmond metropolitan area.
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Students join inaugural council
A select group of individuals will serve on an inaugural council to support the Wilder student experience.
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Wilder School Cohosts Seminar on Foster Care
The Wilder School is partnering with the Virginia Commission on Youth and the Family Impact Institute at Purdue University to host a seminar focusing on the fostering futures legislation this Tues., May 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the state Capitol in House Room 3.
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Center for Public Policy welcomes Girl Scouts for 2019 Legislative Day
The Center for Public Policy (CPP) welcomed more than 60 Girl Scouts and their troop leaders to campus to learn more about the policy-making process as part of their 2019 Legislative Day.
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Three students to participate in international workshop for public policy and administration scholars
The American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) has invited three students from the VCU Wilder School to join the Fifth Annual International Young Scholars Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa this summer.
Read more.jpeg "This summer, Sofia Tortolero Calanche and Nathan Joyner, Master of Public Administration students at VCU’s Wilder School, made significant strides in public policy through the prestigious Governor’s Fellowship Program.")
Governor’s Fellowship empowers Wilder Students to shape policy and make an impact
This summer, within the bustling corridors of Virginia’s state agencies, two standout students from Virginia Commonwealth University's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs made notable impacts through the prestigious Governor’s Fellowship Program. Sofia Tortolero Calanche and Nathan Joyner, both Master of Public Administration students distinguished by their academic prowess and drive to effect change, immersed themselves in the intricacies of state governance, contributing
Read more.jpg "Empowering the Next Generation: The 2024 Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellows, pictured here with Governor L. Douglas Wilder and Dean Susan Gooden. These 24 ambitious students are set to make significant contributions to public policy and administration across Virginia.")
Wilder Fellows: shaping the future of public policy
This year, 24 full-time graduate students are set to transform public policy and administration through the esteemed Wilder Graduate Scholars' Fellowship.
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Fortifying the future: Wilder School homeland security and emergency preparedness program
Launched as the nation’s first homeland security and emergency preparedness program in 2005, the Wilder School is a national leader in managing the complexities of disaster planning and response. Both graduate and undergraduate degree offerings bolster top career opportunities for graduates.
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