Wilder Graduate Scholars Fellowship

The Wilder School’s prestigious Graduate Scholars Fellowship provides top full-time students in each of our master’s programs with professional work experience, in-state tuition and fees, and a $15,500 stipend through a host employer.

This year, we are proud to have a record 24 Wilder Fellows, all full-time graduate students enrolled in our master's programs.

Wilder Fellows are placed with employers around the Richmond region each year including at nonprofits, government agencies and businesses. Appointments are for one academic year that begins in mid-August and ends in mid-May. Fellows are expected to work 20 hours a week, while maintaining full-time enrollment in one of our four master’s’ programs.

For more information, please email wilderfellows@vcu.edu or call the Office of Student Success at 804-827-2791.

Host a Fellow

The Wilder Graduate Scholars’ Fellowship connects outstanding graduate students with state agencies, public interest firms and nonprofit agencies for a full academic year. Fellows are competitively selected from the school's master’s programs in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Urban and Regional Planning.

Employers select qualified students through a rigorous application process. Employers interview screened applicants and work together with program staff to find the student match that best fits the organization’s needs.

Timeline and schedule

  • Fall and early spring semesters: Program staff meet with potential employers.
  • March: Students submit fellowship applications.
  • April: Program staff conducts initial intake interviews to screen applicants from our four master's programs and to identify highly qualified candidates.
  • May: Confirmed host agencies begin reviewing candidates and conducting interviews.
  • May and June: Fellowship placements for the upcoming academic year are finalized.
  • August: Orientation for Fellows takes place in early August, with employment beginning in mid-August.
  • Mid-August to mid-May: Fellows work 20 hours per week with their host employer while enrolled full-time as graduate students.

Fellows work on special projects and provide program support for 20 hours a week for nine months (mid-August through mid-May) — a total of 760 hours over the course of 38 weeks.

Classes are held during the late afternoon and evening, which allows Fellows to work during the day.

Research and analysis expertise 

Many Fellows have professional experience and significant skills in research design, public finance and budgeting, statistical analysis, geographical information systems, policy analysis, program evaluation, human resources, incident planning and response, or other key areas of public and nonprofit management.

The 2024-25 cost for a Wilder Graduate Scholars’ Fellow to work in an organization is an estimated $32,752 which includes $17,252 for full-time, in-state master’s tuition and fees (2024-25 academic year) and a $15,500 stipend. We provide support for your agency's administrative paperwork and payroll details.

Learn more

For more information on hosting a fellow, contact Lindsey Evans, Ph.D., acting director and assistant professor, at evansll@vcu.edu or wilderfellows@vcu.edu

2024-2025 sponsoring agencies 

  • Bent Ear Solutions
  • Capital Region Airport Commission
  • Chesterfield County Planning Department
  • Greater Richmond Transit Authority
  • Division of Legislative Services
  • HOME of Virginia
  • Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
  • Locus Impact
  • Race Forward
  • VCU Center for Public Policy
  • VCU Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute (VCU),
  • VCU Research Institute for Social Equity
  • VCU RVA Eviction Lab 
  • Virginia CDFI Coalition
  • Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
  • Virginia State Crime Commission

Historic employer hosts

Advantus Strategies 

Richmond Memorial Health Foundation VCU Wilder School Research Institute for Racial Equity (RISE)
Bent Ear Solutions Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority VCU Wilder School RVA Eviction Lab
Capital Region Airport Commission Richmond Region 2007  VCU Wilder School Survey Evaluation Research Laboratory (SERL)
City of Richmond- Community Wealth Building Richmond Regional Planning District Commission Virginia Association of Counties 
Community Housing Partners Corporation The Community Foundation Serving Richmond & Central Virginia Virginia Community Capital
Connect Network VCU Center for Urban and Regional Analysis Virginia Department for the Aging 
County of Henrico VCU Center for Urban Communities Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of General Services VCU Center on Human Needs Virginia Department of Corrections - Operations
Department of Health Professions VCU Clark-Hill Institute Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Department of Housing & Community Development VCU Development & Alumni Relations - Principal Giving Virginia Department of Social Services
Dinwiddie County VCU Development & Donor Relations Virginia Housing Development Authority
GRTC Transit System VCU Office of the President Virginia Information Tech. Agency
HDAdvisors VCU Public Policy Training Virginia Information Technologies Agency 
HOME of VA VCU Wilder School Center for Public Policy Virginia Lottery
Housing Opportunities Unlimited VCU Wilder School Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA) Virginia Resources Authority 
Motor Vehicle Dealer Board VCU Wilder School Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Virginia Retirement System
Office of Emergency Preparedness VCU Wilder School Performance Management Group Virginia State Board of Elections
PlanRVA