Wilder School becomes an independent school at VCU

By Mike Porter

The  L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs has become an independent school at VCU, separating from the College of Humanities and Sciences. The change was announced today by Beverly Warren, Ed.D., Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, in an email to faculty and staff.

Niraj Verma, Ph.D., who has been director of the Wilder School since 2010, is the independent school’s inaugural dean.

A number of academic programs previously part of the Wilder School will remain in the College of Humanities and Sciences, including political science, sociology, economics and international studies. Criminal justice, homeland security and emergency preparedness, public administration, public policy and administration, and urban and regional planning and studies will remain with the independent Wilder School.

“The independent Wilder School will be a strong complement to VCU’s outstanding academic programs,” Warren said. “And I look forward to seeing it take its place as one of the premier schools of public policy and public administration.”

Warren has established a transition team to work with Verma and James S. Coleman, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, to help with the process.

 

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