Susan T. Gooden to step down as Wilder School dean after landmark tenure

By Tiffany Murray-Robertson
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

Since 2018, Susan Tinsley Gooden, Ph.D., the longest-serving dean currently at Virginia Commonwealth University, has led the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs through a period of significant growth and increased national prominence. She will step down from her role June 30.

Gooden first assumed the role in an interim capacity in May 2018 before being appointed dean in April 2020. Her tenure has been defined by the elevation of the Wilder School's national prominence while advancing social equity as both a scholarly discipline and a guiding principle of public service.

"It has truly been the honor of my lifetime to serve as dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and to work alongside such talented colleagues and students who are deeply committed to public service," Gooden said. "I am proud of what we have built together and confident in the school's continued trajectory and impact."

During Gooden's tenure, the Wilder School strengthened its position among the nation's leading public affairs programs, with significant gains in U.S. News & World Report rankings and a national profile across key specialty areas. That rise in visibility was matched by deliberate investment in research, student opportunity and public engagement.

'Steady, principled leadership'

Gooden expressed deep appreciation for Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, whose leadership and continued engagement have helped shape the school's direction and visibility. As the school's namesake, Wilder has played a central role in advancing its mission and impact.

Offering a perspective shaped by his longstanding connection to the school, Wilder said, "Dean Susan T. Gooden has brought steady, principled leadership to the Wilder School, grounded in prudent judgment, integrity and an unwavering commitment to equity and public trust. Her tenure has advanced the school's mission and affirmed its vital role in preparing leaders in service to the people of the commonwealth and beyond.

"Having been born in Virginia and experiencing the vagaries and challenges of racism, she brings a quality we've rarely seen in leadership. I commend her distinguished service and extend my sincere best wishes for continuing contributions."

Gooden leaves a legacy defined by both institutional growth and a sustained commitment to the principles that have guided her career: that public service must be both effective and equitable, and that academic institutions have a responsibility to lead in advancing both.

Reflecting on Gooden's leadership and impact, VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., said, "I am grateful that Dean Gooden helped raise the school's national profile in important ways among VCU's research university peers. Her recognition with the American Society for Public Administration's 2025 career achievement award speaks to the respect she has earned across her profession. Monica and I wish her every success in the next chapter of her career."

'A significant rise in prominence'

Central to Gooden's efforts was the creation of the Research Institute for Social Equity, or RISE, now a hub for scholarship and policy engagement focused on addressing systemic inequities and advancing applied solutions across the commonwealth. Through RISE, the school expanded its role as a driver of research with direct implications for communities and policymakers. The institute also secured $6 million in funding from the Virginia General Assembly, a significant investment in advancing its mission.

That same commitment to applied learning is reflected in the Wilder Fellows program, which Gooden launched in 2006 to prepare the next generation of public service leaders. The program has grown significantly in both size and impact, providing students with immersive experiences that connect academic training with real-world application. This year, the program includes a record 28 Wilder fellows, the largest cohort in its history, representing a nearly $1 million annual investment in student support. Since its inception, the program has supported 231 graduate students, with more than $6.2 million invested in preparing the next generation of public service leaders.

The school's Capitol Semester program also expanded under her leadership, evolving into a flagship experiential learning opportunity that connects students directly to the work of state government. Participation has grown significantly, from 23 students in 2018 to a record 68 in 2026, with placements expanding across more than 60 legislative and executive offices. The program has also broadened its reach across disciplines, reflecting the growing intersection of public policy with fields ranging from criminal justice to computer science.

Beyond the classroom, Gooden advanced the reach and influence of the Wilder School's Commonwealth Poll, which earned designation as a CNN-approved poll during the 2020 presidential election cycle, underscoring the rigor and credibility of the school's research and its role in capturing public sentiment and informing policymakers across the state.

Gooden's tenure has also been marked by strong fundraising, exceeding the school's capital campaign goals and expanding philanthropic support for student access, faculty research and program growth.

"Dean Gooden's tenure has seen a significant rise in prominence for the school, both academically and beyond the walls of VCU," said Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost. "Now more than ever, it is paramount that we are able to educate and train the next generation of public servants, and there is no better place than right here at VCU. I thank Dean Gooden for her service to the university and look forward to continued collaboration in the future."

An accomplished scholar

A nationally and internationally recognized scholar, Gooden has earned some of the most distinguished honors in public administration and played a defining role in shaping how social equity is understood and operationalized within the field. Through her research and writing, she has helped move the concept from theory to practice, positioning equity as a core measure of effective governance. She is the author of six books and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, and is a leading voice in the field with influence that extends across both scholarship and public service.

Gooden's influence extends across the discipline, including service as a past president of the American Society for Public Administration and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, the global accreditor for public affairs education.

She is the recipient of many national and international awards, including the Dwight Waldo Award, the Charles H. Levine Award and the Herbert Simon Best Book Award, among the field's highest honors, and an elected fellow of the congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration. Her contributions also include a Fulbright Specialist Award to Zayed University in Abu Dhabi and gubernatorial appointments to several boards, including the Virginia Retirement System and the Virginia Community College System, where she served as board chair.

A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Gooden has devoted nearly 30 years to public service in Virginia, including more than two decades at VCU and a previous faculty appointment at Virginia Tech, where she earned tenure. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and earned her master's and bachelor's degrees from Virginia Tech, and an associate degree from Patrick & Henry Community College. She is married to Basil I. Gooden, Ph.D., former Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.

Following her departure as dean, she will return to the faculty of the Wilder School's public administration program after a year of research and academic leave. She plans to spend time in Vienna providing comparative analysis of social equity between Austria and the United States.