Vicky M. Wilkins

Vicky M. Wilkins serves as provost and chief academic officer at American University while holding a professorship in public administration and policy within the School of Public Affairs. Previously, she served as dean of the School of Public Affairs, driving significant growth in undergraduate and graduate enrollments through strategic leadership and academic innovation.

Her educational credentials include:

• Bachelor of Science in Political Science and History from Northern Michigan University
• Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Chapman University
• Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri

Dr. Wilkins' research centers on public administration with deep expertise in representative bureaucracy, bureaucratic discretion, and intersectional analyses of gender/race in policy outcomes. Her influential work examines how demographic representation in bureaucracies affects policy implementation, particularly regarding deservingness frameworks and human resource management practices in governmental institutions.

Her publications appear in premier journals including American Political Science Review and Public Administration Review, establishing her as a leading scholar in bureaucratic representation. She has received multiple teaching awards recognizing her pedagogical excellence.

Dr. Wilkins has chaired or served on over 20 Ph.D. dissertation committees while mentoring numerous master's and undergraduate researchers. She pioneered student engagement initiatives including Late-Night Breakfast, Policy Hackathon, and Pizza with Professors to cultivate academic community.

She founded key research infrastructure including the SPA Analytical & Management Institute, Public Affairs Policy Lab, and Peace & Violence Research Lab, creating experiential learning environments where students develop practical policy analysis skills through real-world applications.