News and events
.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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more