L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

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With a double major in political science and criminal justice, Laila Barnes found the Virginia Capitol Semester to be a multifaceted opportunity to gain experience for her future.
News / May 3, 2023

Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program: Laila Barnes unlocks future career opportunities

For Laila Barnes, pivoting to a new field of study allowed her to bring her career aspirations into view. The Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program offered her an experiential learning opportunity to help build a foundation for her future success. This internship program allowed Barnes to spend the semester with Minority Leader Delegate Don Scott’s office.

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Motivated by a passion for the policy world, Edvard Evans found the Virginia Capitol Semester an eye-opening look into the process of policymaking.
News / May 3, 2023

Wilder School Virginia Capitol Semester program: Edvard Evans gains an inside perspective on Virginia government

This spring semester internship allows students to combine classroom experience with hands-on service in the office of Virginia State Legislature House Delegate or Senator during the General Assembly, and Evans was able to gain an inside perspective on the inner workings of state government.

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Administrator Criswell shared her career journey and experiences leading FEMA. She first joined the emergency management field as a firefighter.
News / May 2, 2023

Wilder School hosts FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell for fireside chat

Senior FEMA leadership delegation visited the Wilder School to share emergency management and preparedness career opportunities

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Esteemed VCU alumna Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D., is the Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives.
News / April 27, 2023

Support an endowed scholarship in honor of VCU alum Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D.

VCU alumna Sesha Joi Moon, Ph.D., and her family members have established the Dr. Sesha Joi Moon Endowed Scholarship to support undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of African American studies, government, and public affairs. Moon, who serves as chief diversity officer at the U.S. House of Representatives and was one of the first graduates of VCU's Department of African American Studies, credits the university with launching her career.

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Wilder School alumnus Michael Perkins lived a life dedicated to his family, his community and the service and advocacy of others.
News / May 1, 2023

Raising a voice for others to thrive: remembering Michael La’Mont Perkins, Esq.

Michael La’Mont Perkins, Esq., Wilder School alumnus and dedicated public servant, built a life committed to education, mentorship and advocacy. As a young, African-American professional, Michael led a life dedicated to family, faith, leadership, and service using his voice as a tool to impact the lives of those around him forever.

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Christopher Whyte, an assistant professor of homeland security and emergency preparedness at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, is the co-author of two recent books:
News / May 1, 2023

Understanding Cyber Warfare: An Interview with Author and Cybersecurity Expert, Christopher Whyte

Christopher Whyte, an assistant professor of homeland security and emergency preparedness at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, is the co-author of two recent books: "Understanding Cyber Warfare: Politics, Policy and Strategy” and "Information in War: Military Innovation, Battle Networks, and the Future of Artificial Intelligence.” We sat down with Whyte to discuss the second edition of UCW and the current state of cybersecurity.

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Kalokoh’s research explores the intersections of criminal justice, homeland security and emergency management, which developed through his experiences growing up amid a civil war and post-war conditions in Sierra Leone.
News / April 28, 2023

Wilder School doctoral student Amidu Kalokoh awarded highly competitive scholarship for public administration, public policy and public affairs

Amidu Kalokoh, a doctoral student in Public Policy and Administration at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, is the recipient of the 2023 Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) Summer Program Scholarship in Quantitative Methods.

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U.S. News & World Report ranks the Wilder School public affairs program at No. 39, which places us in the top 15% of more than 250 schools across the United States, as well as top-50 rankings in four program specialty areas.
News / April 25, 2023

Wilder School receives top national accolades in U.S. News and World Report graduate program rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranks our school’s public affairs program at No. 39, which places us in the top 15% of more than 250 schools across the United States, as well as top-50 rankings in four program specialty areas.

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The Virginia Evictors Catalog is part of the Virginia Housing Justice Atlas project, which is being steered by an advisory committee made up of representatives from housing justice organizations in the Richmond and Charlottesville areas.
News / April 24, 2023

The RVA Eviction Lab shines a spotlight on Virginia’s high eviction rate

The Wilder School’s RVA Eviction Lab has partnered with the University of Virginia’s Equity Center to provide data on landlords with high eviction court filings. Together, they created the Virginia Evictors Catalog, a database that catalogs property owner plaintiffs who have filed tenant evictions across Virginia. The goal is to use the data to learn how best to redress unjust eviction processes in the commonwealth.

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66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder is the nation's first African-American Governor.
News / April 24, 2023

Wilder School in Action: Governor's Voice

66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder joins us for a Q&A to share his perspectives on the Wilder School Commonwealth Poll, a longtime bellwether and trusted source for public opinion in Virginia

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