L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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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.
News / July 25, 2024

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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111 days before Election Day, President Joe Biden trails former President Trump in Virginia 39% to 36%.
News / July 16, 2024

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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On June 19, NEH participants meet with public historian Ana Edwards at the site of the historic Lumpkin's Slave Jail in Richmond to explore its history.
News / July 11, 2024

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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Summer Academy students gather with Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden, Chandler Holeman and alumna and Policy Pathways CEO Dr. Pulane Lucas, Ph.D. '13. (Front row left to right) Credit: Stafford Armstead C it/Create One
News / July 10, 2024

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 Destiny Brown and Addie Alexander have worked alongside Wilder School Center for Public Policy staffers across a range of projects.
News / July 9, 2024

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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According to the American Journal of Public Health, an inability to receive an abortion directly correlates to increased poverty and worsening of physical health outcomes.
News / July 2, 2024

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.

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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.
News / June 25, 2024

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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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. The 2024 session of the Summer Academy will run June 23 - July 6, 2024.
News / June 13, 2024

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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Congratulations to the Virginia Executive Institute Class of 2024!
News / June 12, 2024

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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Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., dean and professor of the Wilder School, is an internationally recognized expert on social equity and most recently released
News / June 12, 2024

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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