Virginia Tech’s political science master’s program consistently prepares graduates for successful careers. Susan Gooden not only exemplifies this success, but also offers a model for future students seeking to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Gooden is currently dean and professor of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an internationally recognized expert on social equity and serves as an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She has also served as the president for both the American Society for Public Administration and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.

As a decorated author in the field of social equity and public administration, Gooden has received numerous awards and honors, including this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Gooden discussed her background, what the award means to her, and how her master’s program and the Department of Political Science prepared her for a prestigious career. She also offered advice for aspiring academics in the field.

Gooden grew up in Bassett, Virginia, and her father taught in the Martinsville City school System 33 years. She graduated from Martinsville High school in 1986, then enrolled at Patrick Henry Community College following high school, and transferred to Virginia Tech where she majored in English. Gooden recalls that she wanted to go to law school after finishing her undergraduate degree, but former political science department chair Richard Rich convinced her to apply to the master’s program in political science. After applying and receiving full funding in the program, Gooden excelled as a student and graduate teaching assistant, where current professor of political science Karen Hult served as the chair of her master’s thesis. Gooden later received her Ph.D. in political science from Syracuse University.

On her return to Virginia Tech in 1997, she founded the Race and Social Policy Research Center. In 2004, Gooden left Virginia Tech for a similar position at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she continues to excel as a scholar of social equity today. Gooden explains that her interest in social equity and policy is based on her own experiences and how members of her family navigated these institutions, noting “only the wearer knows how the shoe pinches … the ways racism pinches.”

Gooden said winning the Distinguished Alumni Award is “extra special” to her.

“It always means a lot when an organization, any organization that you've had the pleasure of working with for many, many years, comes back and says we want to give you an award,” she said.

She also discussed the importance of the department investing in her at an early age, again highlighting the work of Richard Rich, Karen Hult, and Tim Luke, which helped her develop into the scholar she is today.

On her first time teaching in Karen Hult’s class as a graduate teaching assistant, Gooden recalled she was “absolutely terrified,” but that class, and the opportunities provided by the political science master’s program, planted the seed for her to get a Ph.D. instead of a J.D. Writing her master’s thesis was helpful to this decision, as it aided her in completing a dissertation at Syracuse University. Through these experiences, the department helped Gooden develop as a professional in her field.

From early in her career to now, Gooden noted the level of support from faculty in the department helped her immensely when starting her academic career. Once she returned to Virginia Tech, she was even more grateful for her experiences and how her interests and goals were always supported.

Mindful of the many conversations she had with other professors who made a difference in her life, Gooden pays it forward by making time to uplift and support her students.

“An encouraging word is priceless and can be transformative in shaping someone’s career trajectory,” Gooden said.

Her advice for students working toward careers in academia is to “follow your interests.”

“You're going to work harder for it, and then you'll have better outcomes,” she said.

Written by Patrick Salmons