Janet Wilding is currently the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Economic and Community Development at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Before coming to UMSL, she was the Vice President of Business Attraction at Greater St. Louis, Inc., dedicated to St. Louis’ economic growth and prosperity as a global metropolitan region that expands economic opportunity for all. She was formerly the VP of 39N at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership leading the master planning and implementation of "39 North," a new 600-acre innovation district focusing on the AgTech industry encompassing the Danforth Plant Science Center, Bayer, The Helix Center and BRDG Park. The district is envisioned as an active, inspiring, and utterly unique place where the world’s brightest minds in food, water, energy, and the environment converge, collide and collaborate to solve our biggest challenges and advance the human condition.
Previously, she was a principal with Policy & Change, LLC as a consulting partner to the National Park Service working on strategic planning and implementation for the transformation of the Gateway Arch grounds, Museum, Visitor Center and Riverfront. The project, known as CityArchRiver, re-imagined the front door of St. Louis, and created a world class public space at this iconic park. Construction of the $380 million renovation of the Gateway Arch National Park was completed on July 2, 2018.
Prior to becoming a consultant in 2013, Ms. Wilding was Deputy Director of The Great Rivers Greenway District, for 12 years implementing an interconnected system of parks, trails, and open space for the St. Louis Region. She was one of the original staff to set up this regional agency after the passage of a regional sales tax for parks and open space in 2000. She assisted in creating the vision and framework that currently guides the work of the regional greenway system. She also managed the construction of the McKinley Bridge Bikeway, Branch Street Trestle, River Des Peres Greenway, Riverfront Trail, Grant’s Trail and the St. Louis Riverfront development projects and ended her time there responsible for all operating and capital budgeting for the district.
Janet has spent the last 31 years in the public sector working on a wide variety of public policy initiatives; from political campaign work and congressional staffing to neighborhood housing advocacy, brownfield redevelopment, and municipal annexation and incorporations. She is passionate about public life and a strong advocate for progressive issues locally. Her educational background is in economics, urban planning and design and architecture.
