L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs

10/15/2026

What makes a neighborhood a place where people can afford to live, work and thrive?

Join the Wilder School on November 10 for our annual Morton B. Gulak lecture with Eric Kronberg, founder of Kronberg Urbanists + Architects for a discussion on how urban planning can chart a practical path forward for communities of every size seeking to reform today's regulatory framework and create neighborhoods that are vibrant, inclusive, and lasting — places built to flourish for generations

Register here: https://give.vcu.edu/events/2026-morton-b-gulak-lecture

10/14/2026

What happens when a cyberattack doesn't steal information, but threatens the food in your refrigerator?

Across France, hackers disrupted refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets, exposing a vulnerability in the technology that keeps everyday life running.

In a new Associated Press report, Wilder School associate professor Christopher Whyte explains how these attacks may have happened and why their scale, and the apparent absence of ransom demands, make them so unusual.

The bigger question: How secure are the systems we depend on every day? The story has already reached more than 300 news outlets worldwide.

Read the AP report:

Cyberattacks have disrupted European supermarket chains, causing refrigeration systems to overheat at hundreds of stores in France.

10/01/2026

More than 20 data center projects are planned, proposed or underway across Central Virginia. They could bring counties significant tax revenue and raise questions for nearby communities about water, electricity and air quality.

In this three-minute report, On Your Side Investigators’ Maggie Glass examines what’s at stake, including research by Wilder School professor Damian Pitt on air pollution from data center backup generators.

https://bit.ly/4yZEyyU



Wilder School

09/30/2026

NASPAA 2026 kicks off today in Seattle!

This week, public affairs schools from across the country and around the world are coming together for the annual conference of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration — and the Wilder School is here.

Robyn McDougle, RaJade Berry-James, Derrick Boakye Boadu and Tiffany Murray-Robertson will be presenting throughout the conference on topics ranging from public affairs education and faculty well-being to student advocacy and public-facing scholarship.

If you’re in Seattle, come see us! Stop by a session, visit the Wilder School exhibit table and say hello.

09/23/2026

“I haven’t finished.”

Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s words capture the continuing commitment behind a historic career.

On Sept. 19, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation honored the nation’s first elected African American governor with the ALC Honorary Co-Chairs Award at its Phoenix Awards celebration.

The Wilder School’s namesake reflected on the recognition, his ongoing advocacy for historically Black colleges and universities, and his advice to the next generation of public leaders: “When the door is closed, open the door.”

Join us in congratulating Gov. Wilder, and read his reflections: https://bit.ly/4ruImG0

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years after 9/11, how has the work of keeping communities safe changed?

In a VCU News Q&A, Wilder School faculty Curtis Brown, David Webber and Christopher Whyte reflect on the attacks’ lasting impact and the challenges ahead.

Their perspectives explore how investments in emergency preparedness help communities respond to disasters, how technology is changing security decisions, and why relationships and public trust remain essential to protecting people.

Read their reflections:

Wilder School faculty Curtis Brown, David Webber and Christopher Whyte look back at the past 25 years of public security.

09/11/2026

Today, we remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, and those whose lives were forever changed.

Twenty-five years later, the responsibility to protect communities endures. The challenges continue to change.

A cyberattack can disrupt patient care. A flood can become a housing crisis. Preparing for these interconnected threats takes critical thinking, trusted relationships and the ability to work across disciplines.

At the VCU Wilder School, home to the nation’s first homeland security and emergency preparedness program, these lessons are shaping how we educate the next generation of public servants.

Read the VCU News story about how our program is evolving alongside the communities and challenges it serves.

More than two decades after its founding, the program that helped define an academic field is reshaping its curriculum around a profession whose boundaries have largely disappeared.

09/10/2026

How can emergency management professionals use artificial intelligence effectively and responsibly?
The VCU Wilder School is convening emergency management and homeland security professionals for a free, four-part training series focused on the practical use of AI in the field.

Developed and delivered by RAND with funding from the Markle Foundation, the series combines AI expertise, real-world emergency management experience and hands-on learning. All sessions are educational and vendor-neutral.

VIRTUAL SESSIONS

• AI History and Basics
Tuesday, September 22 | Noon–2 p.m.

• Understanding AI-Enabled Products
Thursday, September 24 | Noon–2 p.m.

IN-PERSON SESSIONS AT VCU

• Getting Better Outputs from Large Language Models
Thursday, October 1 | 10 a.m.–noon

• Maximizing the Potential of Generative AI to Support Emergency Management
Thursday, October 1 | 1–3 p.m.

The in-person sessions will be held in VCU’s Raleigh Building in Richmond. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

Register: https://answer.rand.org/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=o20K9o4L

09/09/2026

Join the Wilder School next Wednesday, September 16 for our first Lunch and Learn of the fall semester!

Hear from Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Associate Professor Chris Whyte the growing role of artificial intelligence as it moves beyond analyzing threats and recommending responses. Whyte will explore when people trust machine-generated advice, when they resist it and why those decisions matter.

Register here: https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yy0c-f8rTXCfh2Ld6nLLgw #/registration

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.