Meet our Interim Director: Grant Rissler! — Richmond Peace Education Center

The Board of Directors of the Richmond Peace Education Center announces the appointment of current board member, Grant Rissler, as Interim Executive Director effective Dec. 1, 2019. Long-serving executive director Adria Scharf officially concluded her role on Nov. 30.

Grant is currently a full-time parent and affiliate faculty member at VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. He can be reached via e-mail at or by calling the office.

Grant brings significant relevant experience to the role:

Institutional wisdom from 5 years on the board of the Peace Center (while filling the interim role, Grant will participate as a non-voting member) including chairing the Peace Center’s communications committee and serving as Secretary for two years.
A decade of professional non-profit experience in peace and justice advocacy, communications and fundraising and three years as board chair of Ten Thousand Villages-Richmond. Additionally, from 2012-2019, Grant served in a variety of roles within the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy, most recently as Assistant Director for outreach efforts.
A graduate certificate in conflict transformation from the Center for Justice and Peace Building at Eastern Mennonite University and a PhD in Public Policy/Administration from VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Grant will provide 10-12 hours a week in the interim role and will serve until a new Executive Director is appointed by the Board. The review of candidates for a new Executive Director is ongoing and open until filled – interested candidates can review the job posting here.

We express our support for and our thanks to Grant for taking on this role alongside his responsibilities as a full-time parent. Moreover, during this transition, we especially want to express our support and thanks to Peace Center staff Christina, Jo, Santa and Seema, as well as the center’s many volunteers and interns for the indispensable work they continue to do in support of the Peace Center’s mission to build just, inclusive and nonviolent communities through education and action.