About the Magazine
Each spring and fall, the VCU Wilder School publishes the Wilder School in Action magazine highlighting the work of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Spring-Summer 2026 Wilder School in Action Magazine
Spring-Summer 2026
Spring/Summer 2026
Public leadership has never been more complex. From housing and environmental stewardship to criminal justice, public policy and executive leadership, today's challenges demand leaders who can think across disciplines, navigate uncertainty and translate knowledge into meaningful action.The Spring/Summer 2026 edition of Wilder School in Action explores how the Wilder School is preparing those leaders. Our cover story examines the Urban and Regional Studies and Planning program, where faculty and students are addressing the interconnected forces shaping communities across Virginia and beyond. We also highlight Professor Hayley Cleary's nationally recognized research on false confessions, demonstrating how rigorous scholarship is influencing courts and advancing justice.
This issue also celebrates Governor L. Douglas Wilder's first public art exhibition, Brushstrokes, a reflection on creativity, leadership and legacy that supports scholarships for future public servants. Readers will also hear Governor Wilder's perspective on governance and Virginia's changing political landscape, meet alumni serving in key roles across the Commonwealth's new administration, and learn how students and graduates continue to advance the public good through scholarship, service and leadership.Together, these stories reflect the Wilder School's enduring mission: preparing thoughtful leaders, strengthening public institutions and advancing solutions to the complex challenges facing communities today and tomorrow.