General
Apr 27 2010 - 11:15am
As lawmakers in Washington begin work on reforming the financial regulations for Wall Street, Virginia Senator Mark Warner and Tennessee Senator Bob Corker are setting a strong example of bipartisan cooperation that may provide the key to a successful legislative package. A recent article for Businessweek titled "Dancing Across the Aisle" reads in part:
"Warner and Corker, both members of the Senate Banking Committee, are working across party lines on a compromise on one crucial aspect of the effort to strengthen the federal government's ability to stave off another Wall Street crisis. Their collaboration contrasts with congressional acrimony on health care and other topics. "The word from the Republican leadership is for the most part: Don't cooperate on Obama's agenda," says Thomas Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution. The Banking panel "is the only place in the entire Congress where Democrats and Republicans are actually talking together."
Click here to read the full article.
Click here to watch Senator Warner, a founding Board member of the Sorensen Institute, call for bipartisan cooperation in the U.S. Senate.
Feb 23 2009 - 11:04pm
The Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia hosted the most recent event in its National Debate and Policy Series this past weekend. The debate was held at the National Governor's Conference and focused on federal investments in infrastructure. Sorensen graduates may find the conversation quite interesting. Click here for the video. This debate will be broadcast on PBS in the spring.
Jan 8 2009 - 11:39am
A message from our Executive Director Bob Gibson.
Happy New Year.
It is my pleasure to share with you some goals and plans our board members and staff have recently developed as we consider the future of Sorensen.
Last year members of the State Advisory Board formed a Strategic Planning Committee to consider Sorensen's next five years. Comprised of current and former state and regional board members and alumni, this group included Board Chairman Barbara Fried, Michel Zajur, Delegate Jennifer McClellan, Delegate John Cosgrove, Kelli Palmer, Mary Loose DeViney, Daniel Carey, Teresa Gregson, Brian Cannon, and long-time Sorensen supporter Fred W. Scott, Jr., who served as the Committee's Chairman.
Fred Scott reported the results of the Committee's work to the State Advisory Board at its meeting in October. The plan was unanimously adopted and went into effect that day. Staff members have been busy developing a series of action items as we work towards these goals. The Strategic Planning Committee has done a wonderful job at outlining a positive path for Sorensen's future. I would like to briefly draw your attention to a few key items in the strategic plan.
* First, Sorensen's staff and board members are fully engaged in maintaining an ideological balance in all of our programs. Having a strong balance among class participants is a key factor in shaping the effectiveness of the programs. Our renewed and aggressive commitment to this goal is already paying off, as evidenced by the incredibly strong and diverse applicants pools we have seen for the 2009 Political Leaders and Candidate Training Programs.
* Raising the Sorensen profile across Virginia is vitally important to our work. We will create and capitalize on new opportunities to strengthen our outreach in a multitude of ways. Our alumni can be enormously helpful in this regard, and we look forward to your participation in helping us communicate the ideals at the heart of the Sorensen mission.
* We are committed to developing new programs for our alumni so that you will enjoy opportunities to engage with your fellow graduates. We will invite you to join us soon in helping to launch these exciting new programs and events.
* The Sorensen Institute receives no public funding to support our programs. We continue to rely on our board members, alumni, and friends in these difficult economic times to help in our development efforts, and we appreciate all that you do to help cultivate financial support for the Institute.
Below you will find a link to the proposals and goals outlined by the Strategic Planning Committee. I encourage all of our alumni and friends to take a moment to read this document. And I certainly appreciate any feedback and thoughts you may have.
I would also like to thank the members of the Strategic Planning Committee who graciously volunteered their time and energies on this important work. Your commitment to the Sorensen mission is critical to our success, and I speak for the entire staff and our many alumni when I say thank you, we are in your debt.
I hope this is a fantastic and memorable year for us all. Thank you for your continued support and interest in the Sorensen Institute.
Very best,
Bob Gibson
Executive Director
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
(434) 982-4998
bob.gibson@virginia.edu
Jan 7 2009 - 3:11pm
In keeping with Sorensen's strong commitment to strengthen the quality of our programs, we have added a new request on the About Us page of the website for comments and suggestions. We would especially like to hear from our alumni as to how you think Sorensen might improve or broaden our programs, events, and offerings. You have benefited from the Sorensen experience. Tell us now what we can do better. We'll look forward to your feedback. All comments and suggestions can be directed to Executive Director Bob Gibson.Bob can be reached at his office in Charlottesville by phone at (434) 982-4998 or by email bob.gibson@virginia.edu.
Jul 29 2008 - 10:09am
In a recent email to alumni, Sorensen's Executive Director Bob Gibson announced that Amber Capron (PLP 04) would be leaving our staff to pursue an exciting new opportunity, and that a search was underway to hire a new Development and Events Coordinator:
I am sorry to report that Amber Capron, our Development and Events Coordinator, is leaving the Sorensen
Institute after three years of dedicated service to the organization. As a Political Leaders Program graduate, we are excited to see Amber moving to a great new career opportunity with a nonprofit environmental institute, but as an outstanding member of the staff team, we are sad to see her go.
As a result, we have begun searching for someone to fill this position. Potential applicants must use the Jobs@UVA system to apply for the job. Please note that on the Jobs@UVA website, the job is listed under our parent organization here at UVA, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
We will begin review of applications in early August, so please encourage those who might be interested to apply online soon. If you are interested, please follow the application protocol as outlined on Jobs@UVA. Please forward this information to others who may be interested. — Bob Gibson
If you are interested in applying for or learning more about the position, please click here then under Search Postings, search for listings in the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in which the Sorensen Institute is located.
Jul 9 2008 - 2:33pm
The United States Senate Youth Program (click brochure at right for more info) is a unique opportunity for two outstanding high school students from each state. Students will have an opportunity to meet and learn about the history and procedures of the U.S. Senate, meet the highest-level elected officials in the federal government and be encouraged to explore a career in public service.
All student delegates are chosen by their state departments of education. Virginia’s state deadline for application to the USSYP Washington Week 2009 is on September 19, 2008. Interested students should contact their high school principal. If their school does not have information and applications for the 2009 program, students may contact state selection administrator:
Dr. Beverly Thurston
History, Social Sciences & International Education Coordinator
101 North 14th Street, 23rd Floor
James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 225-2893
Beverly.thurston@doe.virginia.gov
May 8 2008 - 9:20am
Congratulations to Ted Sorensen, former advisor and speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy, who celebrates his 80th birthday today. It is Mr. Sorensen's older brother Tom (1926-1997) for whom the Sorensen Institute is named.
Click here to learn more about Tom Sorensen and to hear an exclusive interview with his brother Ted.
Mar 25 2008 - 9:30pm
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
March 25, 2008
The following is a message from Barbara Fried, Chairman of the Sorensen Institute's State Advisory Board.
This announcement was shared today with the members of Sorensen's State and Regional Boards as well as with our 1,000-plus alumni.
***
Dear Board members and Alumni,
It is my pleasure to inform you that the Search Committee has selected Bob Gibson of Charlottesville as the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership's new Executive Director. We are thrilled about this decision and are looking forward to Bob joining our team in late April.
Bob is familiar to many Virginians as the veteran political writer at the Charlottesville Daily Progress and as the long-time host of WVTF Public Radio's Evening Edition. Bob grew up in Arlington County and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1972 where he studied government and foreign affairs.
Bob is well-known at the University, in Richmond, and in political circles across Virginia. He has been a frequent guest speaker to Sorensen classes over the years, bringing with him a deep appreciation for the issues on which our programs focus. Throughout his professional career Bob has always stood for those principles which are at the heart of the Sorensen mission. As a reporter and political analyst, he has earned a strong reputation for fairness and thoughtful commentary. The members of the Search Committee unanimously agreed that the Sorensen Institute will be tremendously well served with Bob Gibson as its Director. I look forward to introducing you to Bob at our 2008 Gala on April 25.
The members of the Search Committee were impressed with and inspired by the diverse pool of candidates we had to consider for this position. Our highest expectations were surpassed. The quality of the applicants says a great deal about the work of the Sorensen Institute and about the positive influence our alumni continue to have in the Commonwealth. Each of you, in your own way, manifests that Sorensen spirit as you serve your community and Virginia. I speak for the entire board when I say, we are very proud of you.
I want to express my thanks to the members of the Search Committee who graciously volunteered their time. I sincerely appreciate their efforts, their valuable input, and their continued commitment to Sorensen.
I also want to extend my thanks to John Thomas, Director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at UVA, for his leadership and contributions during this transition. John has indeed been a loyal friend to the Sorensen Institute, and we are in his debt.
This year we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Sorensen Institute. The vision shared by co-founders Leigh Middleditch and Michael Bills continues to be a vibrant and influential legacy. We can all be proud that Sorensen has become the national model of successful bipartisan leadership training.
Please join me in congratulating Bob Gibson and welcoming him to the Sorensen family.
With thanks and best wishes,
Barbara Fried
Chairman,
State Advisory Board
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
Mar 25 2008 - 9:24pm
Veteran political reporter and radio host Bob Gibson has been named the new Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.
In a statement released today from Barbara Fried, Chairman of Sorensen's State Advisory Board, to board members and alumni, Fried said in part:
"We are thrilled about this decision and are looking forward to Bob joining our team in late April. Bob is familiar to many Virginians as the veteran political writer at the Charlottesville Daily Progress and as the long-time host of WVTF Public Radio's Evening Edition. Bob grew up in Arlington County and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1972 where he studied government and foreign affairs. Bob is well-known at the University, in Richmond, and in political circles across Virginia. He has been a frequent guest speaker to Sorensen classes over the years, bringing with him a deep appreciation for the issues on which our programs focus. Throughout his professional career Bob has always stood for those principles which are at the heart of the Sorensen mission. As a reporter and political analyst, he has earned a strong reputation for fairness and thoughtful commentary. The members of the Search Committee unanimously agreed that the Sorensen Institute will be tremendously well served with Bob Gibson as its Director. I look forward to introducing you to Bob at our 2008 Gala on April 25."
News coverage:
Appropriately enough, the Daily Progress broke the news in the Virginia media late this afternoon.
Click here for a story in the Daily Press.
Click here for the story at UVA Today.
Click here for a story in UVA's Cavalier Daily.
Click here for a story in Charlottesville's C-Ville Weekly.
Mar 15 2008 - 12:49pm
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership is currently searching for a new Executive Director. The Search Committee has been reviewing dozens of applications and is narrowing that list in preparation for interviews that will be held in Charlottesville on March 22. We hope to announce the new Director as soon as possible following that date. This is an exciting time for the Sorensen Institute. Look for more details on the search as they become available.
