RaJade M. Berry-James, Ph.D., senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education in the Southern Region Award from the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.

The award recognizes sustained and influential contributions to graduate education, honoring leaders whose work strengthens academic programs, expands opportunity and shapes the future of graduate training across the region. Berry-James received the award in February at the organization’s annual conference.

Since joining the Wilder School in 2022, Berry-James has led a series of efforts to strengthen graduate education at VCU, bringing structure and clarity to systems that support both students and faculty. Her work has focused on aligning academic programs with the university’s strategic priorities while expanding access to mentorship, funding and professional development.

Under her leadership, the school established its first structured faculty mentoring network and expanded professional development pathways for graduate teaching assistants and early-career faculty. She also led efforts to strengthen enrollment management and graduate support, contributing to a 48.4 percent increase in master’s enrollment and a 46.2 percent increase in doctoral enrollment between fall 2022 and fall 2025.

“Dr. Berry-James brings a level of precision and purpose to graduate education that is both strategic and deeply student-centered,” said Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., dean of the Wilder School. “Her leadership has strengthened our programs at VCU while also influencing how graduate education is approached across the field.”

Her impact extends beyond the university. Through her leadership with the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, where she has served as president and chaired its accreditation commission, Berry-James has helped shape standards for more than 330 member institutions worldwide. Her work has emphasized equity-centered program design and practice-based learning, reinforcing the role of graduate education in preparing public service leaders.

A scholar of social equity in public administration, Berry-James has also contributed to national conversations through her teaching, research and service, including award-winning courses and leadership roles with the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Society for Public Administration.

For Berry-James, the work remains grounded in access and opportunity.

“I am dedicated to holding the door of access and opportunity open for all students, including first-generation graduates, by honoring my mentoring promise and guiding them through their academic journeys while actively pursuing funding initiatives to support their development,” she said.