Sorensen Grads Promoted at VA21

Congratulations to Steven Jones, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2004. Steven is the new Executive Director of Virginia21, the nation's first advocacy group for college-age citizens, founded here in the Commonwealth.

Steven joins fellow Sorensen alumni Jesse Ferguson (PLP 2004), who co-founded VA21 and served as its first Executive Director, and Kelly Porell (PLP 2007), who served as the most recent Executive Director at VA21.

Congratulations as well to Emily Webb, a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2007, who will be replacing Steven as Deputy Director at Virginia21.

The complete press release follows:

Virginia21 Announces New Executive Director
New leadership team to assume role on September 1st
 
RICHMOND- Today Virginia21 is proud to name Steven Jones as its next Executive Director.  Jones joined the organization as Deputy Director in late 2006.  In his new role, Jones will oversee all aspects of the office including policy development, issue advocacy, grassroots networks, and fundraising.
 
“It will be an honor to serve as the third Executive Director of Virginia21,” says Jones.  “Having worked with this fantastic organization since its inception, I feel a strong commitment to the values, mission, and goals of Virginia21.  I look forward to reaching out to our student members and legislative leaders from all parts of Virginia to talk about the important role that higher education plays in our communities and our economy.  I believe that the more students that we are able to engage, the larger the voice we can lend to the value of higher education in Virginia.”
 
Replacing Jones as Deputy Director will be Emily Webb.  Emily is a 2008 graduate of Virginia Tech where she received her Bachelors degree in Political Science.  She is also a 2007 graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.  In her new role, Emily will be responsible for coordinating Virginia21’s student chapters at each of Virginia’s two and four year public colleges and universities.  Here she will organize all student events including lobbying trips, advocacy campaigns, information meetings, and voter registration drives for each one of our forty-six chapters.
 
 “I’m thrilled to join the staff at Virginia21,” says Webb.  “I look forward to working with so many students from across the Commonwealth who share my passion for this organization and who want to actively engage in the political process to continue to make Virginia’s higher education system a model for the country.”
 
“Having served as the Virginia21 campus coordinator at Virginia Tech for more than two years, Emily is uniquely qualified to work with our student chapters throughout the Commonwealth,” said Steven Jones.  “Her experience, energy, and enthusiasm will be a fantastic addition to the Virginia21 team.”
 
The new Virginia21 leadership will assume their roles beginning September 1st.
 
Virginia21 is an action-tank involving young people across the Commonwealth in the political process by providing information, directing advocacy, and coordinating political action on a non-partisan issue agenda. With 46 chapters and over 45,000 members, Virginia21 is the Commonwealth’s and the country’s first generational advocate for young voters.