RaJade M. Berry-James is the Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. With over 35 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Berry-James has held key administrative roles in university administration, including the Office of Institutional Research and the School of Liberal Arts. Her expertise encompasses academic affairs as Chair of the Faculty, Director of Graduate Programs, Ph.D. Program Coordinator, MPA Program Coordinator, Graduate Assistantship Coordinator, and faculty member across various graduate programs.
A consultant specializing in efficient and effective public management, Dr. Berry-James focuses her research, teaching, and community engagement on the theory of change and the applied practice of public administration to enhance postsecondary education. She has served as the past chair of the NAPA Standing Panel on Social Equity in Governance, past president of NASPAA, and two-time past chair of the NASPAA Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA). In addition, she was elected to serve on the ASPA National Council, representing District II for nearly 10 years.
History of Employment
Position
Division
Organization
Start
End
President
Research Triangle Chapter, Governance
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
2022
2025
Past-President
Executive Council, Board Governance
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2024
2025
Chair
Social Equity in Governance Standing Panel
National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)
2022
2024
President
Executive Council, Board Governance
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2023
2024
Program Evaluator
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
North Carolina State University
2017
2022
Co-Chair
Membership Review Ad Hoc Committee
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2022
2022
Vice Chair
Social Equity in Governance Standing Panel
National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)
2021
2022
Chair of the Faculty
Faculty Senate, Shared Governance
North Carolina State University
2021
2022
Adjunct Instructor, Policymaking, Implementation, and Evaluation
Department of Public Administration
University of Cincinnati
2022
2022
Professor, Public Administration
School of Public and International Affairs
North Carolina State University
2021
2022
Associate Professor, Public Administration
School of Public and International Affairs
North Carolina State University
2010
2021
Co-Chair
20th Annual Social Equity Leadership Conference
National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)
2020
2021
Chair-Elect
Faculty Senate, Shared Governance
North Carolina State University
2020
2021
Executive Trainer
COPRA Accreditation Institute
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2017
2020
Chair
MPA Program Site Visitor, COPRA
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2015
2020
Executive Council
Elected Member, Board Governance
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2017
2020
Community Reviewer
Department of Public Safety
State of North Carolina
2011
2016
Faculty Liaison
Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity (OIED)
North Carolina State University
2012
2015
Resident Fellow
Genetic Engineering & Society (GES) Center
North Carolina State University
2014
2015
Chair
Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA)
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)
2012
2014
Chair
Scholarships & Awards Committee
Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)
2014
2014
Co-Chair
12th Annual Social Equit Leadership Conference
National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)
2012
2013
Director of Graduate Programs, Public Administration
School of Public and International Affairs
North Carolina State University
2010
2013
Co-Chair, Diversity Standing Committee
Conference Track on Theory and Methods
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organization and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
2011
2012
National Council
District II Elected Representative, Board Governance
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
2000
2010
Associate Professor, Public Administrtion
Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies
The University of Akron
2006
2010
Research Associate
Institute for Health and Social Policy
The University of Akron
2000
2010
Program Evaluator
Grant: Disproportionate Minority Contact
Summit County Juvenile Court, Ohio
2008
2010
Graduate Assistant Coordinator
Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies
The University of Akron
2005
2010
Associate Chair
Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies
The University of Akron
2009
2009
Chair
Scholarships & Awards Committee
Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)
2005
2008
Adjunct Instructor, Cultural and Linguistic Competence
College of Education
University of Cincinnati
2007
2007
PhD Coordinator
Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies
The University of Akron
2006
2007
Chair
Public Management and Social Policy (PMSP) Journal Committee
Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)
2005
2007
Assistant Professor, Public Administration
Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies
The University of Akron
2000
2006
Chair
Nominating Committee
ASPA Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award
2004
2005
Acting President
Greater Akron Chapter, Governance
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
2003
2004
Chair
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Exemplary Practices Award Committee
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
2002
2003
Chair
Scholarships & Awards Committee
Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)
2001
2003
Co-Chair
Diversity and Public Policy Committee
Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)
2002
2003
Co-Chair
Charter & By-Laws Committee
Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA)
2001
2003
MPA Program Coordinator/Assistant Professor
Department of Government and Sociology
Georgia College & State University
1999
2000
Assistant to the Dean
School of Liberal Arts
Kean University
1993
1999
Adjunct Instructor, Critical Issues in Public Administration
Department of Public Administration
Kean University
1998
1998
Adjunct Instructor, Administration of Public Policy
Department of Public Administration
Kean University
1998
1998
Adjunct Instructor, English
Center for Academic Skills
Essex County College
1997
1997
Teaching Assistant, Epidemiology
School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA)
Rutgers University - Newark
1997
1997
Adjunct Instructor, Problem Solving & Comprehension; Vocabulary Development
Project Health EPIC/SCience STAR Precollege Program
Kean University
1994
1997
Adjunct Instructor, Intro to Public Administration
Department of Public Administration
Kean University
1997
1997
Special Assistant to the President
Office of the President
Kean University
1995
1996
Adjunct Instructor, Inquiry and Research
General Education
Kean University
1995
1996
Adjunct Instructorm Freshman Seminar
Center for New Students
Kean University
1990
1996
Co-Founder
Kean University Student Chapter
National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)
1994
1994
Managing Associate Director
Office of Institutional Research
Kean University
1991
1993
Assistant Director
Office of Institutional Research
Kean University
1987
1991
Research Assistant
Educational Opportunity Fund Program
New Jersey Department of Higher Education
1985
1987
Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs and Professor
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University
2022
Affiliate Faculty
Research Institute for Social Equity (RISE)
Virginia Commonwealth University
2021
Primary Policy Areas
Board Governance, Health Care, Higher Education, Housing, Nonprofit/Philanthropy, Social Equity
Primary Sector of Expertise
Academic
Primary Functions
Academic Faculty, Academic Administration, Academic Research, Advocacy, Change Management, Data Analytics, Grants Management, Nonprofit / NGO leadership, Performance Measurement, Program Evaluation, Strategic Planning