L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

AboutContactPeople Directory SearchVisitApply GiveEmail Signup
RaJade M. Berry-James, Ph.D.

Email: berryjamesr@vcu.edu
Recent Articles

RaJade M. Berry-James, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs and Professor

EXPERTISE

  • Social Equity
  • Research Methods and Analysis
  • Program Evaluation and Assessment
  • Accreditation

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Public Administration, Rutgers University - Newark 

MPA, Public Administration, Kean University

B.S., Business Administration, Rider University

CERTIFICATIONS

Inclusive Excellence, NC State University

Reflective Teaching, NC State University

Leader Development, National Security and Strategy, U.S. Army War College

Nonprofit Management, Duke University

Certified Public Manager (CPM), State of New Jersey & Rutgers University - Newark

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Berry-James has conducted community-based and cross-site evaluation research for federal, state, and local governments.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

RaJade M. Berry-James, Ph.D., is the senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Dr. Berry-James is an elected fellow of the congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and was appointed by the NAPA Board as Chair of the Standing  Panel on Social Equity in Governance, beginning January 2023. Berry-James was also elected as Vice President and President-Elect of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) and will assume the presidency for the 2023-24 term.  She brings an extensive record of service to the network, having served as a member of NASPAA’s Executive Council, and two-time chair of the NASPAA Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA). Berry-James has spent more than 30 years in higher education, serving as Chair of the Faculty, MPA Program Coordinator, Ph.D. Program Coordinator, and Director of  Graduate Programs for small, large, and research-intensive graduate programs. She is also a consultant, specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as assessment and accreditation in higher education.

Berry-James' research, teaching, and community engagement focus on the theory of change and the applied practice of public administration. Co-authored with Gooden (2018), her recent book, Why Research Methods  Matter: Essential Skills in Decision Making (2018), examines real-world policymaking and evidence to support decision making. Berry-James designed two NASPAA award-winning courses, MPA Capstone and Cultural Competence in the Public Sector, and has taught master- and doctoral-level courses such as Basic Quantitative Research, Advanced Research and Statistical Methods, Research Methods and Analysis, Public Policymaking, Implementation and Evaluation, Survey Research, Program Evaluation, Public Bureaucracy, Personnel Management, Conflict Resolution and Social Equity. Her scholarly research has appeared in the Public Administration Review (PAR), Journal of Public Affairs Education (JPAE), Review of Public Personnel Administration (ROPPA), Public  Performance and Management Review (PPMR), International Journal of Public  Administration, International Association for the Study of Global Achievement of Gap, International Journal of the Humanities, Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial  Management, Journal of Black Political Research, Journal of the American Society of Professional Emergency Planners,  and Journal of Public Management & Social Policy (JPMSP).

Berry-James has received several research awards and sponsored grants to evaluate community-based projects and initiatives funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation,  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, SAMHSA/Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), SAMHSA/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS), Summit County (OH) Juvenile Court, Summit County (OH) Department of Jobs and Family Services, and Akron Center for Policy Studies.  In recognition of her applied scholarship, she received the Carolyn L. Lattimore  Education Excellence Award (2020), Outstanding Engagement Award  (2019), Rutgers University - Newark Alumni Spotlight (2018), NASPAA Social  Justice Curriculum Award (2017), ASPA Presidential Merit Citation (2017), COMPA National Public Service Award (2016), Chancellor's Creating  Community Award for Outstanding Faculty (2013), NASPAA Diversity Award  (2013) and COMPA Sylvester Murray Distinguished Mentor Award (2011).

She earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Rider University (1987), an MPA from Kean University (1993), and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Rutgers University (Newark), with a specialization in productive public management (1999). Her dissertation, Implementing Affirmative Action, examined factors influencing program efficacy in higher education.

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Berry-James, R. M. and Vigil, C. (2025) "RAMS in Research: A Guided Journey through the McNair Scholars Summer Program," McNair Journal at VCU: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 4.  https://doi.org/10.60938/5thf-ah47

José Luis Irizarry, Berry-James, R. M., Humphrey, D. D., Emas, R., McDonald III, B. D., Nordin, J., Lee, M. Evans, L. L., Starke, Jr., A. M.  & Grosflam, J. M.(2025). Promoting Social Justice. Threats to Democracy: A Danger to Social Justice for All. Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration, 2025, 3(2): 309–319.  https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v3i2.6796\

Nwakpuda, E. I., Berry-James, R. M., & Mwarabu, S.  (2024).  Psychosocial Dimensions of Health, Homelessness, and Diverse Families.  In Eds. M. Sabharwal, S. Viswanath, S. McCandless, Handbook on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Public Administration. Elgar Publishers, pp. 156-169.  https://doi.org/10.4337/9781802206173.00022

McDonald, B. D., Hatcher, W., Bacot, H., Evans, M. D., McCandless, S. A., McDougle, L. M., Young, S. L., Elliott, I. C., Emas, R., Lu, E. Y., Abbott, M. E., Bearfield, D. A., Berry-James, R. M., Blessett, B., Borry, E. L., Diamond, J., Franklin, A. L., Gaynor, T. S., Gong, … Zhang, Y. (2024). The scholarship of teaching and learning in public administration: An agenda for future research. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 30(1), 11–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2023.2294654

Berry-James, R. M. (2024).  Presidential Comments: NASPAA 2023: Leading by Convening: Shaping the Future of Public Policy, Public Affairs, and Public Administration. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 30(1), 8-10.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2024.2312757

Keegan, B., R. Diehl, and R. M. Berry-James. (2023).  Racial Disparities in Pandemic Public Opinion: Findings from the Wilder School Commonwealth Poll. In E. Harper‐Anderson, J. Albanese, & S T. Gooden (Eds.), The Triple Pandemic: Implications for Racial Equity & Public Policy. Routledge, pp. 32-49. ISBN 978-1-03-226178-2

Smith-Mason, J., R.M. Berry-James, B. Wooldridge (2023).  The COVID-19 Pandemic Response by Institutions of Higher Education (IHE): Negative Consequences for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). In E. Harper‐Anderson, J. Albanese, & S T. Gooden (Eds.), The Triple Pandemic: Implications for Racial Equity & Public Policy. Routledge, pp. 209-226. ISBN 978-1-03-226178-2

Gooden, S. T., R. G. Johnson III, S. McCandless, & R. M. Berry-James (2023).  The Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration: From Vision to Victory.  Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration (JSEPA), 1:1, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.24926/jsepa.v1i1.4770

SELECTED NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

Berry-James, R. M. (Discussant) with convener José Luis Irizarry (NCCU) and panelists, Roseanne M. Mirabella (Kean University), Ramón Ruiz  (CUNY Graduate Center). Reckoning with Care: Nonprofit Leadership, Social Equity, and Abolitionist Praxis in U.S. Foster Care and Adoption  Systems. Northeastern Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA), Kean University, November 7-8, 2025.

Berry-James, R. M. (Moderator) with convener José Luis Irizarry (NCCU),  Public Administration, Civic Engagement, and Spanish-Speaking Communities: Advancing Democratic Governance  Through Equity, Language, and Inclusion,  panelists Ramón Ruiz (CUNY  Graduate Center), Priscila Carmona (Fordham University), and Hillary J. Knepper (Pace University).  Northeastern Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA), Kean University, November 7 - 8, 2025

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited, with M. Alkadry).  Global Footprint.  NASPAA 2025, Making a Difference Globally through Quality Public Service Education, Flagstaff, AZ: October 10, 2025.

Berry-James, R. M. (Featured with M. Alkadry, S. Rinfret, and M. Bohrt).  NASPAA Town Hall: Listening, Sharing, Connecting.  NASPAA 2025, Making a Difference Globally through Quality Public Service Education,  Flagstaff, AZ: October 9, 2025.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Discussant).  Evolving Dynamics of Keeping the Lights On: Multi-Level Energy Policy Approaches on Session Track Good Governance and Service Delivery.  ASPA Annual Conference, Not Robots Yet: Keeping Public Servants in Public Service, Washington, DC: March 29, 2025

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Discussant). Double Burden: Navigating Racial Microaggressions in the Workplace on Session Track, Human Resources Management.  ASPA Annual Conference, Not Robots Yet: Keeping Public Servants in Public Service, April 1, 2025.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Chair).  Accountability and Performance Measurement.  APPAM Annual Fall Research Conference, National Harbor, MD: November 23, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Keynote Luncheon Speaker).  Leading by Convening: Changing the Narrative through First Person Inquiry. Northeastern Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA). Pace University, November 1, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M.  (Convener, NASPAA President) Leading by Convening: Shaping the Future of Public Policy, Public Affairs and Public Administration. Washington, DC: October 23 - 25, 2024. https://online.flippingbook.com/view/766370038/6/

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Panelist).  Fostering Critical Thinking in These Challenging Times: Engaging Multiple Perspectives and Dialogue.   Virginia Commonwealth University, Office of the Provost, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence: October 7, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Panel Convener & Presenter). What gets measured gets done: An Examination of Social Equity in Action.  Sixth World Conference, Capetown, South Africa: September 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Panel Convener & Presenter).  The Problem We All Live With.  Sixth World Conference, Capetown, South Africa September 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Panel Convener).   Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit: Do Black Lives Matter? 2024 Social Equity Leadership Conference, University of Connecticut: June 20-22, 2024.  

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Panelist).  Centering Equity: Shaping Public Policy, Public Affairs & Public Administration in Higher Education.  The American University in Cairo, Egypt: May 16, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Speaker).  Catalyzing Change: Leading by Convening through Research and Community Engagement.  New York University, Inaugural DEI Research Day, New York, NY: May 2, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Keynote Speaker).  Pi Alpha The Global Honor Society Induction Ceremony.  Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, NC:  April 23, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Panel Convener & Presenter). To Get Ahead: Building Resilience in Black and Brown Communities. 2024 ASPA National Conference, Minneapolis, MN: April 12 – 16, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Speaker). Leading by Convening: Shaping the Future of Higher Education.  North Carolina State University, Inaugural Engineering Education. Raleigh, NC: March 20, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Panelist).  Interviewing and Salary Negotiation. Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA: March 19, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Keynote).  Leading by Convening: Shaping the Future of Public Policy, Public Affairs, and Public Administration.  Kean University, Department of Criminal Justice and Public Affairs, Union, NJ: March 7, 2024.

Berry-James, R. M.  (Panel Convener). Invited panelists: C. Scott, C. Johnson, S. Dozier, J. Rotich, S. Puello, T. Johnson & K. Willis.  Centering Equity: Teaching & Learning. National Academy of Public Administration Standing Panel on Social Equity in Governance via Zoom, December 8, 2023.

Berry-J­­ames, R. M. (Invited Attendee).  XXVIII Cuba Congress 2023 (CLAD) on the Reform of the State and Public Administration. Havana, Cuba: November 21 – 24, 2023. 

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Attendee).  U. S. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Annual Briefing for Public-Private Partnerships, Washington DC: November 14-16, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Discussant). Methods for Multisite Evaluations.  2023 APPAM Fall Research Conference, Atlanta, GA: November 9-11, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M.  (Invited Discussant). Criminal Justice Management.  2023 APPAM Fall Research Conference, Atlanta, GA: November 9-11, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M.  (Invited Panelist). Racial Disparities in Pandemic Public Opinion.  2023 APPAM Fall Research Conference, Atlanta, GA: November 9-11, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Kick-off Speaker).  Fostering Social Equity.  National Academy of Public Administration. 2023 Fall Meeting.  Washington, DC: November 2, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Convener/Moderator).  Fostering Social Equity: A Plan of Action including special guest Carlton Eley, Senior Director of Federal Strategies, Race Forward.  National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), 2023 Fall Meeting, Washington, DC: November 3, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Guest Lecture).  Cultural Competence in Health Care by Dr. Katherine Tonssas, Fundamentals of Cancer Health Equity, Virginia Commonwealth University Health: October 25, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M.  (Invited Convener).  Dr. Rubaii DEI Breakfast: “Dismantling Institutional Whiteness: Policies, Programs and Practices for Advancing Equity, with Mangala Subramaniam (VCU) and Deena Pierott (iUrban Teen).  NASPAA 2023: Impact, Growth, and Value: conveying the Importance of Public Service Education, Pittsburgh, PA: October 12, 2023. 
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/585085080/35/

Berry-James, R. M. (2023, October). NASPAA Presidential Address: Leading by Convening: Shaping the Future of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration. NASPAA 2023: Impact, Growth, and Value: Conveying the Importance of Public Service Education, Pittsburgh, PA: October 13, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Panelist).  DEIA Teaching & Learning Strategies: Crucial Conversations about Inclusion. Virginia Commonwealth University, Office of the Provost - Faculty Affairs. Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Conversations about Inclusion #2: Strategies for enabling inclusion in the classroom: Being mindful of race, ability, class, and gender, Office of the Provost – Faculty Affairs, Fall 2023 Events, October 4, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Presenter).  DEI Teaching & Learning Strategies: Crucial Conversations about Inclusion.  [Powerpoint slides.] Virginia Commonwealth University, Office of the Provost – Faculty Affairs.  Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Conversations about Inclusion #2: Strategies for enabling inclusion in the classroom: Being mindful of race, ability, class, and gender, Fall 2023 Events: October 4, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Presenter). “Future of Public Serving Institutions: Critical Role of Minority Serving Institutions.”  NASPAA Annual Conference 2023 Pittsburgh, PA: October 4, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Guest of Honor, Inaugural Session).  Greetings from NASPAA, Advancing the Standard of Public Service Education Around the World.  2023 International Conference, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat, India: August 16, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Keynote Session).  Restricting, Revamping and Rebuilding The Independent India: Reflections on Social Equity for Public Servants. 2023 International Conference, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat India: August 16, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Speaker with R. Hartley and K. Dasuki).  Workforce Building and Succession Management: Recruitment & Retention Leading Practices in Early Career Talent. Federal Executive Board Annual Strategic Meeting. Washington, DC: July 27, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (2023).  Panel Convener with B. Wooldridge (Virginia Commonwealth University, Jamilah Stephens (City of Atlanta), Kesha Lee (Third Sector), Emily Nwakpuda (University of Texas, Arlington).  Equity Taking Flight – Making Space for All of Us.  2023 Social Equity Leadership Conference, University of Kansas: June 14, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (2023).  Panel Convener with V. Estorcien (FIU), K. Dukes (FSU), A. Frederic Jr (Howard University), B. Houston (University of Massachusetts - Amherst, A. Kokokoh, Virginia Commonwealth University, R. Lewis (University of Kentucky), J. Scott (University of Southern California) and K. Davis (Virginia Commonwealth).  We Vote with Our Feet: Voices and Choices of URM Students. Social Equity Leadership Conference.  2023 Social Equity Leadership Conference, University of Kansas: June 12, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Speaker).  A Moderated Discussion on Social Equity for 2023 Public Service Recognition Week, Government Accountability Office (GAO) Strategic Issues (SI), Washington, DC: May 10, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Panelist with Emas, R., Brainard, L, & Starke, A.) Teaching successes: A conversation with NASPAA social justice curriculum award winners. Presented via teleconference at the American Society for Public Administration Annual Meeting: March 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Convener). Invited Panelists: Dashield, R. A. and Alic-Batson, R.).  Diversity Accountability through the Praxis of Social Equity and Public Administration.  2023 ASPA Annual Conference, Protecting Democracy for the Next Generation, Live! H. George Frederickson Center for Social Equity Workshops: March 22, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (2023).  Convener.  What can be learned from comparative (cross-country) COVID-19 governance? Joint International Affairs and Social Equity Panel Meeting. NAPA Washington, DC: March 2, 2023.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Discussant).  Intersectionality and Critical Race Theory in Public Policy. Student Research Panel on Social Equity and Race. APPAM Fall Research: Advancing Policy Research with Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, Washington, DC: Nov 17, 2022.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Discussant).  Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Policymakers, and Policy Agents: Women’s Impact on Policy and Theory. APPAM Fall Research: Advancing Policy Research with Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, Washington, DC: Nov 18, 2022.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Discussant).  The Two Americas: Racial Stratification and the Economy. APPAM Fall Research: Advancing Policy Research with Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, Washington, DC: Nov 19, 2022.

Blessett, B., Berry-James, R.M., Bharath, D., Estorcien, V., Mauldin, M., Scott, C., & Starke, A. (Invited Moderator). Black women been knew: Understanding intersectionality to advance justice. Presented at the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration Summit. Charlottesville, VA: October 2022.

Berry-James, R. M. (Invited Plenary Session/Convener with Panelists, B. L. Blessett, R. A. Dashield, T. S. Gaynor, J. E. Wright II).  Social Movements, Social Justice & Social Media: Creating a Better World Together through Accountability and Inclusion. Academy of Management, Seattle, Washington: Aug 8, 2022.

IN THE NEWS: NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS (NIL)