News and events
.jpeg "Class of 2023 HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development Program.")
HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development graduates learn to lead with compassion.
Introducing Dr. Antoinette Allen, Ph.D., the new director of Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and HIGHER Ground Program. Under her guidance, 34 leaders completed the transformative program, emphasizing compassion and growth. With a distinguished career at esteemed institutions like the Federal Executive Institute, IRS Leadership Academy, and FBI, Dr. Allen brings extensive expertise in leadership development.
Read more
“The State House vs. the Greenhouse: Reviewing the Landscape of Energy Policy and Climate Action in Virginia” with Damian Pitt, Ph.D.
Where does energy policy stand in Virginia? What are some leading strategies for advancing equity-focused clean energy? Damian Pitt, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wilder School’s urban and regional studies and planning program, addressed these questions and more during a virtual Lunch and Learn session titled, “The State House vs. the Greenhouse: Reviewing the Landscape of Energy Policy and Climate Action in Virginia” on June 21.
Read more
Keandra Davis: A Guiding Force for Racial Equity in Housing
Keandra Davis, a doctoral student at the Wilder School's public policy and administration program, is leveraging her lived experience and academic insights to enact change in urban policy. Raised in Miami's Liberty City, Davis witnessed stark housing inequities firsthand, kindling a deep-seated resolve that now propels her professional journey. Her work investigates the complex interplay of housing displacement, environmental risks, and emergency management within Miami's public housing sector.
Read more
Dean Susan T. Gooden Honored with Prestigious 2023 Rutledge Social Equity Award for Pioneering Work in Public Administration
Internationally renowned scholar Dr. Susan T. Gooden, Dean and Professor of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), has been honored with the prestigious 2023 Philip J. Rutledge Social Equity Award. This award, bestowed by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), underscores Gooden's commitment of over 20 years to advancing social equity.
Read more
Youth and confessions: Wilder School interrogation expert aids defense in acquitting juvenile suspect of murder
Hayley Cleary, a professor of criminal justice and public policy with a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, focusing on justice system-involved youth, recently served as an expert witness for the defense in the murder case acquittal of Terrell Jones.
Read more
VCU urban planning student helps ‘a very hopeful experiment’ take root in Richmond
With the rollout expanding this fall, Adelaide Alexander says participatory budgeting elevates social awareness and community engagement.
Read more
Virginia leaves Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: What you need to know
With a 4-3 vote from the Air Pollution Control Board, Virginia begins a process to withdraw from a multistate carbon cap-and-trade program, walking back years of greenhouse gas and sustainable energy. We sat down with Damian Pitt, Ph.D., an expert in sustainability-focused energy policy in Virginia and the Atlantic region. Pitt is associate professor of urban planning in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public
Read more
Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs convene to discuss keys to business expansion and wealth building
What is the quickest way to grow wealth for Blacks and Hispanics in Richmond, Virginia?
Read more
Wilder School academic advisor Nicolette Zbell helps navigate students to graduation and beyond
For 14 years, Nicolette Zbell has advised thousands of students at VCU as an academic advisor for VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. She joined the Wilder School four years ago, bringing more than a decade of experience as a VCU advisor. She says the most rewarding part of her job is helping students– but the most challenging part is getting them to her office.
Read more
VIDEO: Exploring the future of campus policing With the VCU police chief John Venuti
What is the role of the VCU Police Department in promoting campus and community support for all? It's a key question VCU chief of police John Venuti explored during a recent Wilder School Lunch and Learn presentation.
Read more