News

Wight to Discuss The Role of Transportation in a Post-COVID Virginia

June 4, 2021

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.”

Xueming “Jimmy” Chen, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the urban and regional studies and planning program, will serve as the session moderator, and Robyn McDougle, Ph.D. (M.S.’00/GPA; Ph.D.’03/H&S), associate dean of research and outreach, will provide opening remarks. The event will be recorded and shared through email and the Wilder School YouTube channel. Closed captioning through Zoom will be available during the session.

Title: On the Move: Vacations, Work, School — The Role of Transportation in a Post-COVID Virginia
Date: Wednesday, June 16
Time: 12:00 p.m., noon -1:00 p.m., EST

For more information, contact James Wasilewski, director of development, at wasilewskijr@vcu.edu.

About the Speaker

Amy Wight was appointed assistant secretary of transportation by Gov. Ralph Northam in July 2018 where, focusing on communications and policy, she supports a safe, reliable, multi-modal transportation system that is the platform for Virginia’s economy.

Wight began working in state government at the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, where she served as director of the Gang Reduction and Intervention Program from 2009-14. In this role, she developed and executed a strategic plan to significantly reduce gang activity in targeted areas, focusing on addressing the needs of underserved populations. During this time, she also served on the Richmond Regional Re-entry Council, the Juvenile Justice Collaborative, Richmond’s Truancy Reduction Task Force and the Tri-Cities Regional Strike Force. Prior to this role, Wight served as special projects coordinator for the OAG’s Public Safety and Enforcement Division, a position whose primary responsibilities included researching and analyzing public policy, developing grant proposals and preparing financial reports.

In 2013, Wight was named one of Style Weekly’s “Top 40 under 40” and is an alumna of the 2014 Class of Leadership Metro Richmond.

Wight graduated from Wellesley College with a B.A. in International Relations and is currently enrolled in the Master of Public Administration certificate program at the Wilder School. She lives in Richmond and volunteers in the Greater Fulton community, working to increase awareness of the benefits and services available to residents. She also volunteers in Richmond’s theatre community, serving as community liaison for the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle and as fundraising event organizer for the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond.