Kamal Alhassan is a Ph.D. student at the Wilder School of government and Public affairs (VCU), specializing in Public Policy and Administration with a focus on Criminal Justice. Their research interests span a variety of areas, including cybersecurity, cybercrime, the role of AI in the criminal justice system, homeland security and emergency preparedness, and policing and community relationships.

Kamal Alhassan is deeply committed to using their research to contribute to the academic community and to promote a safer digital landscape. They believe that by examining and addressing these critical areas, we can work towards more effective, efficient, and just systems that serve our communities well.

When not immersed in their studies, Kamal Alhassan can be found riding, traveling, or engrossed in a good book. They view these activities not just as hobbies, but as avenues for expanding their perspectives and inspiring new insights into their work.

Looking ahead, Kamal Alhassan aspires to continue developing their expertise and to make meaningful contributions in their field. They aim to work at the intersection of policy, technology, and law enforcement, leveraging their research to shape policies that address the complexities of our digital world. They are also passionate about fostering open dialogues and collaborations between academia, policymakers, and law enforcement to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements.

Gina Abena Amedeka is a communications consultant and development professional with over eight years’ experience in corporate communications and social entrepreneurship. She is currently works as a Research Assistant at the Parliament House of Ghana.

Gina founded Almah Africa, an NGO which advocates for girl child education and women empowerment across Africa. In the past four years, Almah Africa has collaborated with other NGOs in Africa to implement projects on gender based violence in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Ghana. She is also the founder of MCP Services Ghana, a communications consultancy providing consulting services with special focus on foreign companies seeking to invest in the Ghanaian economy leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Gina has a Master’s Degree in Communications, a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Management and is an alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship 2022 cohort. She will begin her PhD in Public Policy and Administration at the Virginia Commonwealth
University in the fall 2023. Gina hopes to further her career as a development consultant working in International
Non-Governmental organisations and Governments in Africa to enact and implement policies
and initiatives towards enhancing the development of women on the continent.

Social Media
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-abena-amedeka-139168100 (Gina Abena Amedeka)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ginaamedeka (Gina Amedeka)

EDUCATION 

2020- 2023: Virginia Commonwealth University, LD Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, USA: MPA in Public Administration
2006-2007: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore: MSc. International Relations                           
2000-2003: University of Ghana/St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Ghana: Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Sociology and Religions
1998-2001: St Paul’s Catholic Seminary, Ghana: Philosophy and Religion 

SKILLS

Adept in Communication, and critical thinking 
Excellent in research, analysis of data and text. 
Excellent in planning, coordination and advocacy
Proficient in SPSS, Microsoft Office: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook.
Proficient in utilizing advance editing features such as track changes for editing and collaborating with others on long documents. 

SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS/ COURSES

Trans-Atlantic Seminar Regional Planning in United States and Germany
Public Administration Theory
Principles of Public Administration
 Research Method in government and Public Affairs
Quantitative Method
Strategic Trends in US Foreign and Domestic Economic Policy
(Un) Problematic Multiculturalism and Social Resilience
Professional Skills Enrichment: Data and Text Analysis
Asia- Pacific Program for Senior Military Officers  
Training in Media, Singapore Media Corp. A training Program in media management to non-media organizations and professionals.
Shangri-La Dialogue: The Asia Security Summit aimed at building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

WORK EXPERIENCE

March 2017 - Current: Supervisor, VCU Health Systems. Responsible for supervising drivers and valet attendants at the department of Parking Services. Verify and process attendance sheets for weekly payment of contract workers

August 2018 - Current: Manager, Stellam Matutinam LLC. Oversees day to day running of the company.

September 2009 – November 2015: Lecturer, USA College of English, Beijing. Responsible for organizing and conducting Spoken and Business English classes, taught Professional Business courses such us, ‘Objectives, Strategies and the Business Environment’, ‘People in Organizations, External Influences on Business’ among others.  Also, responsible for setting, conducting examinations and grading students.  

September 2009 – July 2010: Lecturer, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing. Taught Business Environment, Managing Professional Development, and Marketing.

September 2008 – August 2009: Teacher, Bilingo China, Beijing. Responsible for developing curriculum, organizing, and conducting Business English, Business Writings, IELT and TOEFL classes.

August 2007 – August 2008: Assistant-General Manager, Fount of East Cultural and Trading Company, Beijing. Responsibilities: advance the International projection of the company and effect and coordinate every foreign relation of the company, responsible of ensuring smooth transaction in the department of Foreign Trade.

October 2004 – July 2006: Lecturer, Yingcai College, Jinan, Shandong, PR China. Taught English and Business English, responsible for coordinating, and supervision of Spoken English Teaching by other teachers employed by the school, conduct termly examinations and grading.
 
ACTIVITIES

Member of Justin writers club, St Peter’s Seminary, Pedu.
Students Representative Council at the St Peter’s Seminary.
Kisseman Catholic Youth Association (Kikayas), Organizer.
Coordinated in the distribution of clothing, food and other basic needs to the sick and needy in our community in Ghana through Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
Volunteered for ‘Help Aged Ghana’ in the coordination and distribution of food and medical services to the Aged in Ghana. 

LANGUAGES 

French and Mandarin Chinese (Spoken)

Expertise

-Gerontological Studies
-Abuse in Later Life
-Workforce Development/Policy & Procedure Quality Improvements

Research Interest: Financial exploitation of older African Americans through private guardianship and family agents of Power of Attorney. 

Shannon Arnette serves as a Research Analyst for the Virginia Center on Aging and an instructor within the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University.  She provides support for various research projects by assisting with literature reviews, analyzing data, and conducting focus groups. As a Research Analyst, she also leads the Senior Mentoring Program for the Virginia Center on Aging’s Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. Through this program, VCU’s first-year medical school students are paired with a senior mentor in the state of Virginia to provide the students with a different perspective on aging and an understanding of how ageism may interact with their daily practices as a physician.

Shannon also serves as a member of the Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS) Program for the state of Virginia. Through this network, Virginia’s court practices regarding our current adult guardianship system are evaluated to develop processes and standards of practice within the state. With the use of an interdisciplinary team, educational resources are assessed and revised to educate both the public and the court on Virginia’s adult guardianship system. 

Shannon holds a Master of Science degree in Gerontology from VCU. As part of her training, she gained experience applying research and a gerontological approach to create and modify policies and procedures for quality advancements in corporate and non-profit organizations.

Expertise

-Business Organization
-Communication
-Community Engagement

Research Interest: Entrepreneurship in the under-represented communities, community engagement, and communication

Manika Avasthi is an experienced business faculty with a focus on business organization and communications. As a business communications faculty member, she assists students in articulating their skills to employers. She is also a successful developer of the service-learning model program to engage business students with community non-profits, resulting in practical experience for the students. Her areas of expertise are organizational communication and community outreach.  She has over 20 years of teaching and professional work experience in India, Canada, and the United States.

Expertise

- Cultural Sectors
- Workforce Development / Human Resource Development
- Economic Development

M., Virginia Commonwealth University, M.P.A., M.M. Arizona State University, Virginia Commonwealth University

Emily Avesian is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy and Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University, and holds graduate degrees from the same institution and from Arizona State University. Her professional career has spanned human resource management, artistic administration, program management, government relations and performing positions. She has been a certified Professional in Human Resources since 2011. Research interests include arts districts, worker training and re-training to include higher education as well as economic development.

Devin works at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services as a Grants Specialist providing agency-wide direction and support to expand and administer a portfolio of discretionary grants to further innovation and bolster services and supports for older Virginians and individuals with disabilities.

She is a Virginia native and first-generation college student, and graduated from several institutions across the state including Shenandoah University, GMU and VCU. Devin’s undergraduate degree is in biology and English, and her graduate degrees are focused on public health and aging.

She has worked in the public sector for nine years in roles with non-profit organizations, state government, and higher education. Devin’s expertise lies in the areas of grant development and writing, grant administration, project management, and social sciences research.

She enjoys reading, hiking, visiting museums, spending time with her husband and five cats, and doing home improvement projects. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in the VCU Wilder School Public Policy and Administration program. Her research interests lie in the area of health policy, specifically public policies that impact end-of-life care.

Currently, Devin is conducting original and scholarly research (Title of Dissertation: Exploring Agreement with and Participation in Physician Assisted Death Among Healthcare Providers Using the Theory of Social Constructions and RE-AIM Framework). Proposal defense completed and approved as of May 2022. Anticipated final defense is May of 2024.

Expertise

- Utility Regulation
- Data and Statistics
- Strategic Planning

B.S., Construction Management, Brunel University, London, UK

MPM University of Maryland, College Park MD

MBA University of Maryland, College Park MD

Les Carter holds a master’s degree in public management, a master’s in business administration, both from the University of Maryland in College park, and a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Brunel University, London in the UK. Currently, Les is a Strategic Advisor for Dominion Energy where he is responsible for the regulatory, data, metrics and finances for the Strategic Underground program, where outage-prone overhead lines are converted to underground. Prior to this role, Les worked in a number of management roles at Dominion, and other positions in banking and at the Virginia Department of Corrections. His primary focus as a doctoral candidate will likely be in the renewable energy area, with a possible focus on programs for solar power provision to low-income communities, net metering or consumer willingness to pay for green power. In his free time Les is likely to be out cycling either on country roads or gravel trails in central Virginia.

Expertise

- Local Government Management

- Water/Wastewater/Solid Waste Engineering

- Strategic Policy Planning and Implementation

Bentley Chan is the Director for Henrico Water, Department of Public Utilities.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia; and has worked in municipal utility design, management, and operations and maintenance for the past twenty years.

Sidi Cheng is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Public Policy and Administration program at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. She earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and a minor in Business from The Ohio State University (OSU). She previously worked as a research assistant at the Michigan Population Studies Center, where she assisted in examining how exposure to Cyclone Idai affected the education decisions of households in Mozambique. Prior to that position, she was a research assistant of the Institute for Population Research at OSU and assisted in exploring the relationship between resident and government finance in the U.S. Her research interests include disaster management, regional economic development, and program evaluation.

Lilian Chineme-Ugwu holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. After her first degree, she was privileged to work with several companies in Africa, where she contributed immensely to the growth of the organizations before relocating to the United States to further her education.

She earned a Master’s degree in General Public Administration from Regent University, Virginia, in 2021. She worked with Regent University Library as the Circulation Assistant during this time. When she completed her master’s degree, she served as the Compliance assistant at Virginia Beach Housing & Neighborhood Preservation. She used her expertise to research the regulations and policy documents of the CARES Act and HUD ARPA legislation. 

She created a crosswalk that connects CARES Act regulations and housing-related/HUD regulations. Equally, She worked with Chesapeake public schools as a substitute teacher and is currently a graduate teaching assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Lilian is committed to ensuring that policies are adequately analyzed to make pertinent recommendations that serve the interest of the public at large. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and visiting new places.

Amy Clifton-Mills is a Ph.D. student in the Public Policy and Administration program here at L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Amy joined the program after receiving her B.S. in Criminal Justice and Sociology at Old Dominion University in 2017 and her M.S. in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019. Amy has been a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Wilder School since 2017 and previously interned for the Virginia Senate and Richmond Police Department, as well as working on a federal grant during her time at Old Dominion University. Her research interests include police and community interactions, police training, juvenile justice, and racial equity.

Expertise

-Housing Equity
-Environmental Hazards
-Climate Adaptation
-Economic Mobility
-Emergency Management

Keandra Davis, born and raised in Miami, FL, is a doctoral student at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Public Administration and Policy with a Concentration in Urban Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).

She is an Affiliate Faculty for the African American Studies Department at VCU and an Inaugural Community Outreach and Rental Housing Policy-Programmatic Fellow for Virginia Housing. In her role, Keandra serves to establish equitable development frameworks to address the housing needs of historically underserved communities, determining programmatic success outcomes for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, conducting program evaluation and policy analysis to evaluate risk factors, housing, and legal mitigators for Rental Housing Divisions, and works to establish innovative practices to support resident services, housing programs, and policies to create and sustain affordable housing across Virginia.

Keandra previously served as Graduate Research Assistant at the Research Institute for Social Equity, where she served as the Student Project Coordinator for a community convening focused on fostering wealth and sustainability for growing minority entrepreneurship in Virginia. She also conducted research on the intersections between racism and public health in cities and states across the United States. She conducted research and analyzed data to identify trends in COVID-19, Excessive Death Rates in Virginia, and the FEMA 3+ Region. She also performed environmental scans to evaluate all U.S. social equity centers and contributed to developing a Virginia language access plan framework.

Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies, Keandra served under the leadership of legislative offices for the Florida House of Representatives, the County Administrators Office, as well as for agencies and nonprofits whose missions were to advance social and racial equity and provide critical resources to support vulnerable populations in Tallahassee, FL. She has served as a guest lecturer at Florida International University. She has also written a profile on the mitigation efforts of gentrification in Miami, Florida, and during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, co-authored a publication highlighting the effects of COVID-19 on the racial/ethnic and school populations of all Florida counties to inform local governments of how to best address their needs.

Keandra is currently a Speaker on Affordable Housing for the Women’s Club of Florida Speakers Bureau and served as a Research Scholar for the Street Philosophy Institute in partnership with Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research. Keandra was selected as an Inaugural Fellow of the Kilolo Kijakazi Fellowship in collaboration with the Office of Social Insurance in Washington, DC., and named an Inaugural Fellow for the Journal of Social Equity in Public Administration (JSEPA). Keandra is also a recipient of the Congressional Black Caucus Education Scholarship.

Expertise

-Mental Health Intersectionality 
-Drug Policy and Reform
-Technological Inequality

Expertise

• Anti-terrorism Policy Development
• Compliance and Enforcement

Joseph Faulk holds a bachelor’s degree in political and a master’s in public administration. Faulk currently works as a transportation security specialist developing international and domestic aviation security policy for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He previously assessed policy compliance and program efficiency working for the Department of Homeland Security–Office of Inspector General, worked as assistant to the ambassador for the Royal Embassy of Cambodia, and served as a volunteer missionary in Cambodia. Faulk is most interested in anti-terrorism policy development, compliance and enforcement. When he’s not working, Faulk enjoys going on adventures with his family and volunteering as an EMT and foster parent.

Expertise

• State Courts
• Problem-Solving Courts
• Rural Access to Justice

Kathryn J. Genthon is a Senior Court Research Analyst in the Research Division of the National Center for State Courts.  She received her B.A. in psychology from the College of William and Mary and her M.S. in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since joining the National Center for State Courts in 2014, she has been involved in numerous problem-solving court evaluations, including statewide drug court evaluations, and the development of statewide problem-solving court performance measures for several states. Ms. Genthon has extensive experience in assessing and improving courts’ data quality and computing the statistics included in final process and outcome evaluations. Her additional project work has included providing technical assistance to domestic violence courts, the Court Statistics Project, the Criminal Appeals Project, and the Census of Problem-Solving Courts.

Grady Hart, an RVA native, comes to the Wilder School with a decade of post-graduate work experience in the public and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, Grady served for five years as the Head of Community Partnerships for Richmond Public Schools, where he led a diverse team in facilitating mutually beneficial partnerships between RPS and the Richmond community. He was responsible for a number of key initiatives at RPS, including:

• The coordination of thousands of community partners and volunteers to ensure that students and families had equitable access to food and other essentials throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; 
• The creation of Monumental Conversations, a student and community led Augmented Reality experience sharing stories of Black resistance and resilience in Richmond; and
• Spearheading a two-year national fellowship through the Flamboyan Foundation to empower RPS students and families to advocate at both the school level and system-wide level for their children. 

Prior to his time at RPS, Grady studied International Affairs and Political Science at James Madison University, where he later earned his Masters in Public Administration. He then served as Program Coordinator for VCU ASPiRE under VCU’s Division of Community Engagement while completing his MBA at VCU, and continued serving as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Honors College for several years.

A lifelong-learner, Grady firmly believes that we learn best through real-world experience, and that listening to and empathizing with people from diverse backgrounds is absolutely essential to understanding the world around us. As such, his research interests include community engagement and design thinking, and he is especially interested in applying these methods to transportation and housing policy. He is also keeping an eye on Artificial Intelligence, and the impact it will have on Urban and Regional Policy in both professional and academic settings.

In his spare time, Grady travels frequently and can usually be found outdoors. He is also an active member of the Richmond community, and serves as President of his neighborhood's Civic Association and also helps to lead a network of Richmond Civic Associations. An avid biker, one of his passions is advocating for improved cycling infrastructure in the Richmond region.

Laura earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in biology and a graduate certificate in public management from Virginia Commonwealth University.  She currently works in the Chesterfield County Department of Environmental Engineering Water Quality Section as the county’s Senior Water Quality Analyst.  For the county, she works towards the application of scientific principles to achieve sound land use practices via the administration of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance and the county’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer permit monitoring components.  Her 15 years of experience working in local government and community development has provided her with a wide breadth governmental experiences to include ordinance and policy development, project management, long-range planning, and human resource management.  Academically, she is interested in studying the impacts of climate change on “low-power” communities and environments through the lens of environmental justice.  She would like evaluate ways to incorporate environmental justice and ethical treatment of all into proactive environmental public management policies.  In her spare time, Laura competes in both AKC Confirmation and AKC Obedience with her smooth, standard dachshunds.

Zehra is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy & Administration at the VCU Wilder School. While pursuing her studies, she also works as a graduate teaching assistant. Her research focuses on economic development and education policy with a focus on the impact of policies on Muslim communities and migrant populations. She previously served as a policy analyst at the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance. She earned a Master of International Affairs with a concentration in Economic and Political Development from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs. She got her B.S. in business administration from Bilkent University, Turkiye.

Expertise

-Homeland security and emergency management
-Illicit market and economic development 
-Governance
-Program evaluation

Amidu is a PhD. student in the Public Policy and Administration program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), United States. He earned a BSc. Honors in Peace and Conflict Studies and a MSc. in Security Strategic and Development Studies from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and a Master of International Studies, North Carolina State University, United States.

Amidu is experienced in working with government and nonprofit organizations. He was a Researcher and Security Analyst at the Office of National Security, Office of the President in Sierra Leone and served as Technical Team Lead for the African Youth on Mining and Environment. He loves serving his community. 

His research intersects criminal justice, focusing on law enforcement and prisons, homeland security and emergency management, governance, and social equity.

Degrees:

-Honors in Peace and Conflict Studies

-MSc. Security Strategic and Development Studies, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone

-Master of International Studies, North Carolina State University, United States

Chip holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries resources from West Virginia University and a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Chip has 30 years of experience working for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is currently the Director of Facilities and Safety at John Tyler Community College and previously worked for Virginia State Parks in a number of capacities. Chip enjoys spending time with his wife, Julie, and their four daughters, trail running, and cooking.

James Lambert is a native of Richmond who can trace his family tree back five generations to the Central Virginia area. James is a former Sergeant in the U.S. Army and has a passion for uplifting his community economically. He is also serial entrepreneur who loves both for learning and teaching about entrepreneurship and economics.

He has earned a Bachelors in Economics from Old Dominion University, a Master’s Degree in Real Estate from Virginia Commonwealth University and Master’s Degree in Finance from Virginia Commonwealth University as well. One of James’ organizations, Felons First Housing, is dedicated to assisting returned citizens attain more economic mobility. Another organization, Dollars N Sense, is dedicated to teaching underprivileged and underrepresented youth in the Central Virginia area financial literacy and has had over 1,000 students.

His research interests include reentry and rehabilitation programming, recidivism, affordable housing and economic development.

Kapria Lee is a policy analyst at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. She is dedicated to helping state governments transform systems, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations. She joined Chapin Hall as part of the core team focused on transforming Illinois's children’s mental health system.

Previously, she was a legislative analyst for the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, where she supported a number of projects, including conducting some of the key analyses related to marijuana legalization and the 2021 review of Virginia’s juvenile justice system transformation. Her research interests include the intersection of the criminal justice and behavioral health systems, juvenile justice, prevention programs, service access, equitable and inclusive policy design, and system transformation.

Degrees: 

Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture - University of Maryland 

Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Florida State University

Master of Social Work (MSW) - Florida State University 

Ricardo holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and completed his MBA at the College of William and Mary. He has worked for Capital One for over 20 years where he currently works as a Risk Manager. Ricardo is a doctoral student in the VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. His research interests include security studies, international relations, foreign policy, and international conflict. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, international travel and reading.

Monali earned her Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in Economics from India and MS in Global Studies and International Relations from Northeastern University, Boston in September 2018. She received fellowship from Indian Government to carry research in the underprivileged areas and Sundarbans region which is a UNESCO heritage. She has teaching experience in Economics and Business and she has worked with multinational companies in India and the United States. Her research interests include Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Policy, Sustainability, Economic and Global Development. 

Jay McConville is a military veteran, management professional, strategy consultant, active civic volunteer, and issue advocate. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, he was the founder and owner of Emerald Collaborative Partners (ECP) LLC of Richmond, Virginia, a management, strategy, government affairs, and new business consultancy focused on the Aerospace and Defense industry. As part of his consultancy, he also served for three years as the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Privia LLC, a proposal management software company in Herndon, Virginia. 

In addition to his own business, Jay has held multiple key technology and management positions within industry including Director, Vice President, Executive Vice President and President and CEO within several leading Aerospace and Defense firms.

Jay is also a military Veteran. Enlisting in 1981 and commissioned in 1985, he served as a US Army Intelligence Officer in multiple positions around the world, including with the 1st Cavalry Division during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 

Throughout his career, Jay has been active in civic and industry volunteer associations. He ran for the Virginia House of Delegates from the 44th Legislative District (Mt. Vernon) in 2009, and while unsuccessful, was subsequently elected to lead one of Virginia’s largest Political Committees. He also served as the volunteer Virginia Co-Chair for a top-tier Presidential Candidate during the 2016 Presidential Primary. Jay is a past two-term President of the Washington DC “Capitol” Chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and two-term President of the Ft. Hunt Youth Athletic Association (FHYAA). Today he serves on the Operating Board of Directors of “Constituting America,” a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to teaching America’s youth about the principles of the United States Constitution.

Jay is a Distinguished Military Graduate from Georgetown University ROTC. He has a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College (since renamed the National Intelligence University). He is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.

Jay lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife of 35 years, Susan Ulsamer McConville. They have three children and four grandchildren. 

Expertise

• U.S. Soft Power
• International Development
• Organizational Structure

Corey B. Miles graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Hampden-Sydney College, where he earned All-ODAC academic honors, and with a M.P.A. from Old Dominion University.  After graduating from Hampden-Sydney, Corey worked in a variety of research roles in Washington, D.C. with The World Bank, Hogan Lovells LLP, and Covington & Burling LLP. Following his time in Washington and a brief stint in South Carolina campaign politics, Corey worked in Oklahoma City and Dallas as a member of the retail marketing team of Reynolds American Inc. In 2014, Mr. Miles left the private sector for humanitarian work as a Community Economic Advisor with the U.S. Peace Corps in Ecuador, where he also completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Communication from the Harvard University Extension School. Immediately prior to his arrival at VCU, he served as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at his undergraduate alma mater, Hampden-Sydney College.  In his role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, he supports faculty in a variety of research areas and assists in the teaching of undergraduate and masters-level classes –including a study abroad course in India on "Smart City" development.  Currently, Corey is a member of multiple academic honor societies and serves on the young professional boards of numerous philanthropic organizations throughout Central Virginia, including the Special Olympics of Virginia and the Richmond World Affairs Council.

Heather E. Millar, MBA, has over 20 years of experience in higher education and workforce development with extensive knowledge of post-secondary education, career readiness programs, working with various types of boards and advisory councils, and working on federal and state funded grants. This included working with transitional programs for underserved populations, and adult education. Heather served as a steering committee member for the Virginia Wizard, a federally funded online portal for those seeking to establish a career path connecting educational resources to specific occupations.  She also has extensive experience managing communications in higher education and statewide programs, as well as development (fundraising) for higher education and nonprofits. She has served as a consultant for higher education institutions, and has been involved with several strategic planning efforts at the state level and VCU unit level.

Heather has been the Director of Marketing, Communications and Development in the Department of Nurse Anesthesia, the number one ranked program in the country, since 2013. 

She is an undergraduate from Randolph-Macon College and holds an MBA degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Expertise

-Tech Management, Economics, and Public Policy Analysis
-Industrial Engineering in Product Innovation, Marketing and Demand
-Engineering Education and Curriculum Development
-Market Analysis for Effective Policymaking in Central Asia

Motivation

Karimjon Mullaboev's motivation and keen interest in joining the Wilder School of Government and Public Policy Ph.D. program at VCU is driven by a strong desire for continuous learning and gaining a competitive edge in American academia. He envisions this academic journey as an opportunity to gain invaluable international experience in crafting effective policies that can make a meaningful impact on a global scale.

Education: 

He possesses an exceptional and diverse educational background, complemented by numerous outstanding achievements throughout his academic journey.  He is on track to complete his studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, specializing in the Decision Analytics Program within the School of Business. Having commenced this academic pursuit as an international scholar in August 2022, he focuses on Management Sciences, delving into real-world industrial policy analysis.  

He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from Seoul National University (Korea), an achievement earned in 2020. His research interests span various critical areas, including Diffusion of Innovation, Discrete Choice Modeling, Technological Generation of Product Innovation, and Demand Forecasting for Emerging Technologies, Consumer Products, and Services 

His journey started at Tashkent University of Information Technology in Uzbekistan, where he earned his Master's and Bachelor's Degrees in Industrial Engineering with a major in telecommunications, graduating with honors; he achieved summa cum laude distinctions in both degrees. 

International Experience

He possesses extensive overseas industrial experience, having held significant positions in various sectors, including the Telecommunication Industry, Government, and International Academic Institutions. His early career began at the National Telecommunication Company in Uzbekistan, where he worked from 2005 to 2012. During this period, he served multiple roles across different departments, including Marketing, Infrastructure Development, Investment, and Human Resources.

In 2012, he took up a prominent Government Position as the Department for Engineering Education and Curriculum Development Head at the Ministry for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan before studying for a Ph.D. at Seoul National University (Korea) in 2017.

His diverse experiences in various sectors and his dedication to academic and industrial pursuits showcase his versatile skill set and commitment to contributing significantly to technology management, economics, and public policy.

Expertise

-Public-Private Partnerships 
-Fair Housing Act Compliance
-GIS Analysis

Corey Nolan holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master of public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. While pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy and administration, she serves as a graduate teaching assistant and federal government contractor.

Her work experience administering HUD's Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST design and construction resource center informs her research interests. Her research interests include housing policy with respect to disability and housing affordability. In her spare time, she enjoys caring for her pet hedgehog, Olive.

Education

B.A. Political Science; Virginia Commonwealth University

M.P.A.; Virginia Commonwealth University 

Expertise

-Development Economics
-Housing Policy
-Quantitative and GIS Modeling
-Program Evaluation

Before coming to VCU, Michael O’Grady had a long career in politics, the non-profit sector, local government and on Capitol Hill. His research interests are motivated by seeing first-hand the toll that structural disparities have on both families and communities. His primary research is evaluating how local-level economic and community development policies affect marginalized groups currently living in those communities. His secondary research involves adapting advanced quantitative techniques developed in fields including economics, biostatistics, GIS science, and Bayesian statistics to public policy studies. He holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Longwood University along with a master of public policy and a graduate certificate in economic policy analysis from American University. He is from the Washington, DC area where he serves as a data scientist and housing policy advisor for the Arlington County, VA and Montgomery County, MD Civic Federations.

Education:

• B.S., Psychology, Longwood University
• M.P.P., Advanced Policy Analysis, American University
• Graduate Certificate in Economic Policy Analysis, American University

Personal Website:

www.mikeogrady.us

“The equality in political, industrial and social life which modern men must have in order to live, is not to be confounded with sameness. On the contrary, in our case, it is rather insistence upon the right of diversity… But there is more and more clearly recognized minimum of opportunity and maximum of freedom to be, to move and to think, which the modern world denies to no being which it recognizes as a real man.”

― W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk

Rajendra Pandit is a doctoral candidate at Wilder School, and he holds a master's degree in economics from the UK. His research passion lies in small business survival strategies, with a focus on entrepreneurship and productivity. With a background as a central banker, Rajendra has experience in macroeconomic policy and quantitative analysis. He was awarded a prestigious medal by the President of Nepal for his outstanding service to the country. Currently, Rajendra is expanding his studies to include knowledge of social justice, particularly racial and gender equity.

• Experienced central banker and research economist with strong proficiency in macroeconomic policy design and implementation. Strong analytical skill and good knowledge that helped me made valuable contributions to household budget survey, poverty reduction program at the Central Bank and budget preparation at the Ministry of Finance. 
• With Master degree in Economics from UK, led to adding value in achieving organizational goal or workplace, creative, positive and self motivated- prepared first ever GNDI series in the country; have good communication skills as gained from the role of spokesperson of the central bank. 
• Awarded by a prestigious medal and honor from the president of Nepal for contributing country's economic development through outstanding service in financial sector services.

Michael Rutz graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Psychology and Criminal Justice and earned both an M.S. in Sociology and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention from Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include  intimate partner violence, prisoner reentry, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ policies.

Michael is a full-time instructor of Sociology at Brightpoint Community College, teaching courses in
Social Problems and Anthropology. He has previously taught courses in gender, race and ethnicity,
human sexuality, sociological theory, criminology, and deviance. Michael also proudly serves on
Brightpoint’s Threat Assessment Team and Title IX Review Committee.

Nancy Kent Smith has spent her professional life in the media business. 

In her work as Regional News Director for Raycom Media, Nancy supported the operations of newsrooms across the country ranging from WOIO in Cleveland Ohio to Hawaii News Now in Honolulu Hawaii.  

Before joining Raycom, she served as the Vice President of News for Lincoln Financial Media and Vice President, News for Jefferson Pilot Communications.  

Nancy is an adjunct instructor of Media Economics and Management in the mass communications master’s program of the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture where she serves on the advisory board. 

She holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Political Science and Media from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree from the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture,  

In 2005 she was honored with the George Bowles, Jr. Award for distinguished service in broadcast news by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters. 

Dr. Smith is a Clinical Associate Professor at VCU School of Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Director. A practice and policy scholar, Dr. Smith is an Affiliate Scholar with the Langston Center for Innovation in Quality and Safety and a distinguished policy fellow of the National Academies of Practice of Nursing. She was the 2021 recipient of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner’s NP State Excellence Award and in 2019 was recognized by the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners with the Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award.

Recent publications include, “Political Framing: A Strategy for Policy Analysis,” and “Achieving health equity: Examining telehealth in response to a pandemic,” both published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners as well as “Nurse practitioner scope of practice in Virginia: A legislative case study” in The Nurse Practitioner.

Expertise

• Health Literacy
• Health Disparities
• Fetal-Maternal Health Issues

Meagan Sok holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in public health from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. Before earning her master’s degree, she worked in the clinical research field managing pharmaceutical trials. Sok currently works at VCU as a grant and fiscal manager for the Department of Internal Medicine and is pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy with an emphasis on health policy. Her academic interests include health literacy, health disparities and fetal-maternal health issues. In her spare time, she enjoys running the trails around the James River and participating in mud runs.

Expertise

• Contaminants of Emerging Concern
• Environmental Justice
• Risk Communication

Mary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she focused on pollution physiology and contaminants of emerging concern. Mary has since earned a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as well as a certificate in Research Administration. She worked for a state agency as a program coordinator on a federally funded project before going into the field of research administration at VCU, where she worked for the Division of Sponsored Programs for almost seven years. She is currently the Research Development Administrator for the Division of Research Development within VCU's OVPRI. Her research interests include social equity, research funding inequality, environmental justice, and AI in education. Mary also enjoys Olympic weightlifting in her free time.

Expertise

-Architecture and tenureship in urban areas
-Orientation of Ethnic villages in urban areas 
-Tenancy Laws and urban development strategies.
-Vernacular architecture
-Sustainable transportation planning

Anila is a PhD. student in the Public Policy and Administration program at L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), United States. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Master in Urban Planning from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India. She has an experience 10 years of before joining VCU, including 6 years of experience as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Planning, B.I.T. Mesra, India. She has worked as an architect and has served in the field of sustainable transportation planning as well.

She has closely worked with the tribal community and is deeply interested in their vernacular architecture and organic planning of the tribal communities. She is most concerned in the urban policies of the area where tribals live and have land regulations and land rights. 

She takes pride in being a part of the community and serving them. 

Jeff Thomas is a native Richmonder and the author of "The Virginia Way" and "Virginia Politics & Government in a New Century." Mr. Thomas has professional experience from state and local political campaigns to national farm animal welfare policy. His other passions include journalism, animals and the Freedom of Information Act. Mr. Thomas graduated from Duke University and Tulane University.

Chrissy is an advocate for efficient and effective public services, especially in public safety. She currently serves as a Principal Budget and Policy Analyst with the City of Richmond Department of Budget and Strategic Planning.  In this role, she focuses on initiatives to innovate and improve the city's services provided by its public safety departments. Chrissy received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Richmond, followed by her Master of Social Work and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her focus in the Wilder School doctoral program is Criminal Justice Policy, specifically around services for victims of crime.

Isaac Kwabena Yeboah is an experienced Management and Public Policy Analyst with a
demonstrated work history in the Local Government and Financial Service industry born and
raised in Sunyani, Bono Region of Ghana.

Isaac received a Master of Public Administration from Regent University in 2021, a Master of
Science in Industrial Finance and Investment from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology in 2019, and a Bachelor of Art in Integrated Business Studies from the University
for Development Studies in 2014.

His research interests focus on public policy, leadership development, and financial
management. Isaac investigates the factors influencing formulating, implementing, and
evaluating policies regarding revenue generation and financial resources in Africa’s public and
nonprofit sectors. In addition, he aspires to explore measures for ensuring efficient and effective
management of tax dollars.

Isaac serves the City of Norfolk in the capacity of a Management Analyst. Prior to that, he
worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at Regent University, a Business Analyst in the
Financial Service Industry (Dalex Finance), and a Statistician for Ghana Revenue Authority.
Yeboah is an active member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
and a former Regent University Chapter Vice President. He is also a member of the Pi Alpha
Alpha (Regent University Chapter) and Pi Sigma Alpha (Alpha Epsilon Theta Chapter) Honor
Societies.

Since 2009, Ashley has devoted her time towards empowering women and youth locally and globally. During her undergraduate studies at VCU (B.S. International Social Justice Studies, minors in Nonprofit Management & Administration, General Business, and Italian), she had the privilege of founding a large nonprofit social justice student organization, as well as founding and captaining the VCU Women's Club Soccer Team. Viewing soccer as an avenue to educational and inter-cultural community building, Ashley partnered with the International Rescue Committee and ReEstablish Richmond to design, implement and direct a holistic refugee youth soccer and education program in the East End of Richmond.

During her graduate studies, Ashley was the Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Sarah Raskin on her cross-disciplinary initiative to advance oral health equity in Virginia. In May 2018, she graduated from the L. Douglas Wilder School Master of Public Administration program with a certificate in Public Management. Continuing along her path towards empowering at-risk youth, Ashley served as a Youth Development Center Director at the YMCA of Greater Richmond, a program requested and funded by the Office of Mayor Lavar Stoney. In Fall 2019,

Ashley became a Ph.D. candidate in VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School's Public Policy doctoral program. During the summers of 2020 and 2021, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Women's Institute for Science, Equity and Race (WISER), authoring multiple articles on immigration. Throughout her doctoral pursuits, has served as the GTA for Dr. Nancy Stutts, Dr. Sarah Jane Brubaker, and Dr. Hans-Louis Charles, assisting on studies from rural homelessness to oral health equity to disaster relief. In the summer of 2022, Ashley joined Dr. Brubaker at the SSSP Conference in Los Angeles to present on their oral health equity study.

Dominic Zicari is a Ph.D. student in the Public Policy and Administration program. He received his BA in political science and his MPA from Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. He is primarily interested in criminal justice research, with a particular focus on corporate crime and media representations of crime. When he is not working or studying, Dominic enjoys playing banjo or hiking in Shenandoah National Park.