
Grant Rissler
-
Profile
Grant Rissler teaches courses across the human resource management, nonprofit studies and liberal arts programs at SPCS. Joining the SPCS faculty in 2024 after five years focused on parenting, Dr. Rissler brought in-person and online teaching experience in the areas of public administration, leadership, research methods, and policy analysis.
His social equity-focused research explores the role of state and local governments, as well as nonprofit partners, in the integration of recent immigrants into their new communities. His 2017 dissertation examined the impact of a federal guidance memo on how school systems in Virginia approached their responsibilities toward English Language Learner students and parents. Additionally, he studies public opinion toward immigrants and the intersection of the fields of public administration and peacebuilding. His research impact includes more than ten peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous other papers, presentations and reports, including a 2021 state commissioned and co-authored report on barriers to immigrant integration in Virginia.
Rissler also brings to the classroom more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit and higher education sectors where he held roles in communications, fundraising, policy analysis and program administration. He is connected to the local Richmond community through his professional, research, and service interests, including service on several nonprofit boards.
In addition to holding degrees in history (BA), international relations (MA) and public policy and administration (Ph.D.), he also counts a graduate certificate in conflict transformation, a professional certificate in Geographic Information Systems (from SPCS) and participation in Virginia Commonwealth University’s 2018 Minority Political Leadership Institute as formative educational experiences. His studies included time spent in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Switzerland.
Expand All-
Grants and Fellowships
David & Lucille Packard Fellowship: Partial scholarship to attend Johns Hopkins University SAIS
Bologna Center Fellowship: Partial scholarship to attend Johns Hopkins University SAIS
-
Awards
Henry J. Abraham Graduate Student Paper Award, Virginia Social Science Association Annual Conference (VSSA), Richmond, VA., March 2017, for “Predictors of Public Policy Preferences toward English Language Learners.”
Chester Newland Citation of Merit Award, American Society for Public Administration, March 19, 2017. Presented by ASPA president Susan Gooden to individuals who provided invaluable support during her presidency.
Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs, April 25, 2016. Given to one doctoral student a year by the Ph.D. Committee after nominations by faculty.
Marc Holzer Outstanding Doctoral Student Paper Award, Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA), Fairfax, VA., November 2015, for “Exploring Social Conservatism as a predictor of attitudes toward immigrants & immigration.”
-
Presentations
Webb, M., Baniya, S., Powell, K., Rizvi, M., Dromgold-Sermen, M., Rissler, G., Scott, L., & Kachab, M. (2024, November 22). Towards digital justice and consolidated resettlement resources for new Americans: A Virginia database initiative. Presentation as part of panel Technology at the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) annual conference, Washington, D.C.
Rissler, G., & Liebert, S. (2024, November 22). On immigrants’ behalf?: Comparing views of immigrants and organizations on needed integration services & policies. Presentation as part of panel Constructing a Welcoming Context: The Role of Nonprofits in Migrant and Refugee Integration at the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) annual conference, Washington, D.C.
Rissler, G. (2021, November). GIS Analysis of potentially underserved immigrant populations in Virginia. Presentation as part of panel Justice for Socially Marginalized Groups at Northeastern Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA), Virtual.
Rissler, G., Keegan, B. (2021, April). Comparing predictors of public policy preferences toward refugees, unauthorized migrants and local involvement in immigration enforcement in a U.S. state. Immigration in America: Social, Economic and Policy Impact on Local Communities at American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) annual meeting (Virtual).
Rissler, G. (2019, March). Immigrant Equity in Practice: A Deeper Conceptual Model for Factors Driving Local Government Responses toward Immigrants. Presentation as part of panel: Local Immigrant Integration and Its Relationship to Today's Polarized Immigration Policy at American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) annual meeting, Washington, DC.
Rissler, G. (2018, November). Research to Policy: VCU’s Translational Research Fellows program. Presentation as part of panel - Translating Research into Policy - at Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM), Washington, DC.
Rissler, G. (2018, October). Conflict transformation skill sets: envisioning the value added for students of public administration. Presentation as part of panel – Conflict & dispute resolution skills: An untapped resource for public service curricula? – at Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) annual conference, Atlanta, GA.
Rissler, G. (2018, March). A Shock, Wave or Whiff for Social Equity? Understanding the Impact of a Federal Dear Colleague Letter on Local School System implementation of English Language Learner best practices. Presentation as part of panel: Policy Outcomes in Social Equity at American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) annual meeting, Denver, CO.
Rissler, G. (2017, October). Preparing the student – reflections on organizing a policy-maker engaged MPA public policy workshop. Presentation as part of panel – Strengthening the bridge: Strategies for aligning public affairs institutions to serve policy makers’ need for timely research – at Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) annual conference, Washington, DC.
Rissler, G. (2017, October). Representative Bureaucrats: What makes ESL supervisors in local school systems more likely to advocate on behalf of English Language Learners and parents? Paper presented at Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECoPA), Hollywood, FL.
Rissler, G. (2017, June). Power and Place: Exploring a Deeper Conceptual Model for Forces Driving Local Government Responses toward Immigration. Paper presented at Public Administration Theory Network Conference, Laramie, WY.
Rissler, G. (2017, March). Predictors of Public Policy Preferences toward English Language Learners. Paper presented at Virginia Social Science Association Annual Conference (VSSA), Richmond, VA. Awarded Henry J. Abraham Graduate Student Paper Award.
Rissler, G. (2017, March). Advocates for Access? Understanding the Role of ESL Supervisors in Shaping Local Education Policy toward Limited English Proficient Parents. Paper presented at American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) annual meeting, Atlanta, GA.
Rissler, G. (2016, November). The relationship between public service motivation and advocacy among ESL supervisors. Paper presented at Northeastern Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA), Harrisburg, PA.
Rissler, G. (2016, October). Representative Bureaucrats: Are English as a Second Language Supervisors representative of the general public on two policy questions regarding Limited English Proficient students and parents? Paper presented at Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECoPA), Raleigh, NC.
Rissler, G., Shields P. (2016, May). Hiding in Plain Sight: Positive Peace – A Missing, Critical Immeasurable in PA Theory. Paper presented at PA Theory Network Conference, San Antonio, TX.
-
Memberships
American Society for Public Administration
Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management
American Political Science Association
-
Professional Experience
Assistant Director (2017-2019)
Office of Public Policy Outreach (now Division of Research and Outreach), Center for Public Policy, Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University, RichmondAssistant Director for Programs/Associate (2012-2017)
Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute, Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University, RichmondCommunications Director/Associate (2005-2005)
The Faith & Politics Institute, Washington, D.C. -
Certifications
Conflict Transformation Graduate Certificate, Eastern Mennonite University
Preparing Future Faculty Certificate, Virginia Commonwealth University
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional Certificate, University of Richmond
Minority Political Leadership Institute Certificate, Virginia Commonwealth University
-
Community Service
- Member, Editorial Board, Administrative Theory & Praxis (2019-present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Richmond Peace Education Center (2023, 2015-2020)
- Secretary, (2023; 2016-2017)
- Member, Hope in the Cities Commons, Richmond (2013-2020)
- Leadership team (2019)
- Member, Board of Directors, Ten Thousand Villages, Richmond (2012-2018)
- Chair, (2013-2016)
- Section Editor, Governance Matters, State and Local Government Review (2019-2020)
- Secretary, Board of Section on Democracy and Social Justice, American Society for Public Administration (2018-2019)
- Member, Board of Section on Democracy and Social Justice, American Society for Public Administration (2017-2019)
- Secretary, Executive Board of Central Virginia Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (2017-18)
- Assistant Secretary, Executive Board of Central Virginia Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (2016-17)
- Member, Finance Committee, American Society for Public Administration (2016-17)
- Member, Public Administration Times Editorial Board (2015-2016)
-
Grants and Fellowships
-
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Rissler, G., Keegan, B. (2021). Comparing predictors of public policy preferences toward refugees and local involvement in immigration enforcement in a U.S. state. Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. 28(1); 43-61.
Shelley, W., Pickett, J., Mancini C., Diehl McDougle, R., Rissler, G., Cleary, H. (2021, First Published October 20, 2017). Race, bullying, and public perceptions of school and university safety. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 36(1–2), NP824–NP849. DOI: 10.1177/0886260517736272
Rissler, G., Keegan, B., Liebert, S. (2020). Local responses to immigrant residents in the age of Trump: Insights on the space for action at the local level. State & Local Government Review. DOI: 10.1177/0160323X20980029. First Published Online December 21, 2020.
Rissler, G., Dunn, T., Anthony, T., Miller-Pitts, S., Williams-Lewis, B. (2020). Assessing the racial equity impact of legislation to establish a Virginia grocery investment program and fund. Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, 27(1); 44-62.
Benton, J.E., Rissler, G., Wagner, S. (2020). City and county governments in the time of COVID-19 and the recession: The long and winding road. State & Local Government Review, 52(1); 28-52. DOI: 10.1177/0160323X20975470
Rissler, G. & Shields, P.M. (2019). Positive peace—A necessary touchstone for public administration. Administrative Theory & Praxis, 41(1); 60-78. DOI: 10.1080/10841806.2018.1479549
Rissler, G. (2018). Predictors of public policy preferences toward English Language Learners. Virginia Social Science Journal, 52(1), 39–52.
Pynes, J. E., & Rissler, G. (2017). Social equity in the Trump era: What can local public administrators do to improve social equity for their residents and community in the face of federal cuts? State and Local Government Review, 49(1), 48-59. DOI: 10.1177/0160323X17720267
Gooden S.T., & Rissler, G. (2017). Local government: Social equity “first responders.” State and Local Government Review, 49(1), 37-47. DOI: 10.1177/0160323X17720268
Shields, P. & Rissler, G. (2016). Positive peace: Exploring its roots and potential for public administration. Global Virtue Ethics Review, 7(3), 1-13.
Rissler, G. (2016). Varied responsiveness to immigrant community growth among local governments: Evidence from the Richmond, Virginia, metropolitan area. State and Local Government Review, 48(1), 30-41. DOI: 10.1177/0160323X16636427
Book ChaptersRissler, G. (2023). Immigrant equity and lessons from the Triple Pandemic. In Harper-Anderson, Albanese & Gooden (Eds.), Racial Equity, COVID-19, and Public Policy: The Triple Pandemic (pp. 75-95). Routledge.
- Links