L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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Cathryn Coffey and Emily Csukardi with Discovery Advising, a unit of University Academic Advising, and Steph Vennetti, director of the Wilder School Academic Advising, led the Discovery Camp retreat. (Left to right).)
News / June 6, 2024

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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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.
News / May 24, 2024

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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Sean Sukol and Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden at the Wilder School Student Awards Ceremony, April 18, 2024. Sukol proudly received his Master's Degree in Public Administration this spring.
News / May 22, 2024

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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A group photo of Wilder School MURP faculty and guest speaker Timothy Beatley.
News / May 17, 2024

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

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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).
News / May 1, 2024

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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Faculty and new inductees gather at the Pi Alpha Alpha reception, celebrating outstanding student achievement in public administration, public policy, and public affairs
News / April 29, 2024

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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After graduation, Deja Cooke will serve as a drug court probation officer with the Virginia Department of Corrections. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
News / April 25, 2024

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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Rising to New Heights: The Wilder School ranks No. 6 in Homeland Security, No. 33 in Public Management and Leadership, and stands strong at No. 39 in Public Affairs Graduate Schools according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report.
News / April 10, 2024

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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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.
News / March 26, 2024

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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In the wake of a landmark $14 million penalty against Liberty University for mishandling sexual assault reports, Christina Mancini, an associate professor 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.
News / March 18, 2024

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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