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L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs

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L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs

Developing leaders through relevant, rigorous, multidisciplinary public service education. Through a distinctly interdisciplinary approach, the L.

Located in the heart of Richmond and just two hours from our nation’s capital, the Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University is one of the largest and most comprehensive institutions of its kind in the nation. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University produces leaders who can move beyond their areas of expertise to solve complex problems loc

ally, nationally and globally. Graduates who hold degrees from our programs are well known for successful careers that focus on the well-being of citizens and serve in roles that span the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Curricular offerings within the school include master’s degree programs in criminal justice, homeland security and emergency preparedness, public administration, and urban and regional planning. We offer a variety of undergraduate programs, eight mid-career certificate programs, four combined or dual-degree programs — including the Master of Urban Studies and Planning/Juris Doctor and the Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor — and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. The Wilder School is also the intellectual home of VCU’s Center for Public Policy, an umbrella organization comprised of six policy, research, training and consulting units. Center for Public Policy units are devoted to meeting the organizational needs of public, private and nonprofit organizations. Unit activities include applied research and analysis, organizational capacity building and the enrichment of public service through training and leadership development.

08/13/2026

Former Wilder School Dean and Professor Niraj Verma will moderate Being Indian-American: Its Responsibilities and Possibilities, a timely conversation bringing together prominent voices in public service, media, architecture and civic life.

The panel features Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, Bhumika Tharoor, managing editor of The Atlantic, and Neil Bhatt of NBJ Architecture.

Part of the two-day Threads & Bridges Festival, the conversation will explore Indian-American identity, civic responsibility and the possibilities of leadership and public service.

📅 Sunday, Aug. 16 | 1:30–3 p.m.
📍 Virginia Museum of History & Culture
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Seats are limited. Reserve your seat: virginiahistory.org
Find the event under the Calendar/Events tab.

08/08/2026

Two former Virginia governors. One nationally recognized political analyst. One conversation you won't want to miss.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the VCU Wilder School and the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences bring together L. Douglas Wilder, Jim Gilmore, Larry Sabato, Robyn Diehl McDougle and moderator Bob Holsworth to explore leadership, democracy and the future of the commonwealth.

Register: https://bit.ly/4wOBLs0

08/07/2026

Please join us in congratulating Wilder School alumnus LeQuan Hylton, Ph.D. (Ph.D. ’16), on winning the Aug. 4 Democratic primary for the Dale District seat on the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.

Appointed interim supervisor in November 2025, Hylton has continued a wide-ranging commitment to military, civic and community service. He will advance to the Nov. 3 general election to complete the term ending Dec. 31, 2027.

Congratulations, Dr. Hylton!

Learn more: https://www.richmonder.org/incumbent-lequan-hylton-wins-special-election-to-chesterfield-board-of-supervisors/

08/06/2026

What can Virginia's history teach us about the future of democracy?

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, join the VCU Wilder School and the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences for the 2026 Wilder Symposium: Virginia at 250: Leadership, Democracy and the Future of Our Commonwealth.

Former Virginia Governors L. Douglas Wilder and Jim Gilmore will join political analyst Larry Sabato, Interim Dean Robyn Diehl McDougle and moderator Bob Holsworth for a timely conversation about leadership, civic life and the choices that will shape Virginia's future.

📅 Tuesday, Sept. 1 | 5–7 p.m.
📍 W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Register: https://bit.ly/4wOBLs0

08/05/2026

Congratulations to Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D., professor and former dean of the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, on her appointment as chair of the Virginia Retirement System Board of Trustees.

The appointment places Gooden at the helm of the nine-member board governing one of the nation's largest public pension systems. VRS manages approximately $123 billion in assets and serves more than 861,000 public employees, retirees and beneficiaries across Virginia.

A nationally recognized scholar of public administration, Gooden's appointment reflects a career dedicated to strengthening public institutions through leadership, research and service. It also comes as she continues to contribute to the national conversation on democratic governance through her recent PA Times essay, The Indispensable Role of Research in Strengthening Democracy.

Read more: https://bit.ly/45aQilp

08/03/2026

What happens when AI models access real systems and no one realizes it?

After OpenAI disclosed that one of its models had accessed another company’s systems, Anthropic reviewed more than 140,000 of its own evaluations. It found three similar incidents involving outside organizations.

For Wilder School cybersecurity expert Christopher Whyte, the most troubling detail is simple: Nobody noticed.

In his latest conversation with VCU News, Whyte explains what the incidents reveal about the fragility of AI governance and why the risks could be even greater for smaller companies, hospitals and public agencies.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4bm9bWc

07/29/2026

Did an AI Really Hack Another Company?

An AI model hacked another company's systems during testing. Does that mean artificial intelligence is becoming self-aware? Not exactly. Wilder School cybersecurity expert Christopher Whyte explains what really happened, why it matters and what organizations should learn as AI becomes increasingly capable.

https://wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/news-posts/an-ai-model-hacked-another-company-what-does-that-actually-mean.html

07/23/2026

Christopher Whyte Selected for Air Force Academy Fellowship

Congratulations to Christopher Whyte, Ph.D., associate professor in the Wilder School's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program, on his selection as a nonresident research fellow with the U.S. Air Force Academy's Institute for Future Conflict.

During the 2026–27 academic year, Whyte will examine how military organizations transform technological breakthroughs into lasting operational capability—and why some innovations fundamentally reshape national security while others never move beyond experimentation.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4woQTfi

07/20/2026

Wilder School doctoral student Jackie Okao has been granted the 2026-2028 Sea Grant Fellowship which provides approximately $80,000 in federal research support through the Virginia Sea Grant.

A doctoral student in public policy and administration, Okao will use the grant to continue her research examining how government policy and community engagement can work together to prevent rip-current drowning deaths along Virginia Beach's coastline.

Congratulations, Jackie!

Read more here: https://wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/news-posts/virginia-sea-grant-fellowship-to-support-wilder-doctoral-students-drowning-prevention-research.html

07/15/2026

Calling all Wilder School and VCU alumni in RVA! It’s to hit the driving range. ⛳ Join us July 16 at Topgolf RVA for the Wilder Alumni Putt and Par-Tee, an evening of networking, swings and school spirit.

Sign up now: https://give.vcu.edu/events/wilder-school-alumni-putt-and-par-tee-richmond/?a=13547798

Address

923 W Franklin Street
Richmond, VA
23284

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18048282292

Website

http://www.wilder.vcu.edu/

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