L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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News / January 5, 2023

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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66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder and Wilder School Dean Susan Gooden (center) pose with the 2022 Excellence in Virginia Governance Award honorees.
News / December 19, 2022

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)

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Eva McDonnell explores the
News / December 19, 2022

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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From left to right: Wilder School alumnus David Hinton Jr., a 2021 10 under 10 recipient, poses with Darrion Holloway, Dhara Minesh Amin and Susan Gooden, dean of the Wilder School.
News / December 19, 2022

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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Chernoh Wurie, a criminal justice instructor at the VCU Wilder School, with his class.
News / December 16, 2022

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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Lee Pambid is director of community development for the Town of Farmville, Va. He is also the founder of a co-founder and past board member of Charitable Souls Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit that organizes initiatives to support unhoused and economically-disadvantaged individuals.
News / December 12, 2022

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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Slums, or informal settlements like these in Delhi, India, often lacking adequate access to essential services like connection lines to sewage systems.
News / November 30, 2022

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 development in Richmond is a history of deliberate, racially-charged displacement of entire communities.
News / November 30, 2022

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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As the founding president and CEO of Policy Pathways, Inc., a nonprofit offering educational programs to young people with an interest in policy-related studies, Lucas fosters passions in the minds of burgeoning leaders in Richmond and beyond.
News / November 21, 2022

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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Internships with the Henrico County Division of Police, Virginia State Police and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency have prepared Hirsh to launch a career in intelligence.
News / November 18, 2022

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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