General
May 8 2008 - 8:20am
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 - 8:30pm
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.
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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 - 8:24pm
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 - 11:49am
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.
Feb 9 2008 - 1:49pm
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISPLAY: February 11-15
Beginning Monday Feb. 11 and running through next Friday Feb. 15, the Sorensen Institute will host its annual informational display at the General Assembly building. We will have staff members on hand each of those days from about 8am to noon. As in years past, alumni are encouraged to spend some time with us at the display and help to answer questions from passers-by. It's also a great opportunity to see dozens of your fellow alumni at work. We look forward to seeing you there!
Dec 21 2007 - 10:21am
***
To Our Alumni and Friends,
Warmest Thoughts and Best Wishes for
A Wonderful Holiday Season
And a Very Happy New Year
Happy Holidays from all of us at
the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
***
Sep 1 2007 - 6:46am
Readers of this Blog may be interested in an article in this week's TIME Magazine titled "A Time to Serve" about public service in America.
A republic, if you can keep it. The founders were not at all optimistic
about the future of the Republic. There had been only a handful of
other republics in all of human history, and most were small and far
away. The founders' pessimism, though, came not from history but from
their knowledge of human nature. A republic, to survive, needed not
only the consent of the governed but also their active participation.
It was not a machine that would go of itself; free societies do not
stay free without the involvement of their citizens.
Aug 6 2007 - 7:07am
Oliver Hill and Syd Dorsey (a member of the UVA Board of Visitors) at the Sorensen Gala in March 2007
The state and regional board members, staff and alumni of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership would like to express our condolences to the family of Oliver W. Hill Sr., who passed away yesterday morning at his home in Richmond. Virginia has lost one of its greatest citizens.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports today that Oliver Hill was a pivotal figure in the fight to desegregate
schools in Virginia and across the nation. He was 100.
Mr. Hill was a lawyer and a former Richmond city councilman, the first black person elected to that office in the 20th century.
During the segregation era, Mr. Hill's legal team filed more
civil-rights suits in Virginia than were filed in any other state in
the South. The team won landmark decisions involving voting rights,
jury selection, access to school buses, employment protection and other
matters.
He played a crucial role in the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board
of Education decision in 1954 that outlawed school segregation in the
U.S.
"Few individuals in Virginia's rich history have worked as
tirelessly as Oliver Hill to make life better for all of our citizens,"
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a statement. "His life's work was
predicated on the simple truth that all men and women truly are created
equal."
Click here for the full story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, including links to the official obituary, biography, and slideshow.
Jul 16 2007 - 9:35am
Senator John Warner signs the Warner/Lugar amendment, July 13. (Sorensen class member Dr. Dan Carey is in the background.)
This past weekend the Political Leaders Program Class of 2007 traveled to D.C. and Northern Virginia. On Friday members of the class enjoyed sit-down conversations with both Senator Warner and Senator Webb.
While chatting with Senator Warner, members of his staff rushed in and put a document in front of him for his signature. This just happened to be the Warner/Lugar amendment, which reportedly calls on President Bush to revise his Iraq strategy by the fall, to redeploy troops out of Iraq, and to instruct Congress to revisit the authority it gave the President to go to war.
As he signed his name to the amendment Senator Warner told the Sorensen class, "You're witnessing an historic moment here."
Later that same day, Senator Warner released this statement about the amendment.
On Sunday, two days later, President Bush rejected Senator Warner and Senator Lugar's appeal. "I don't think Congress ought to be running the war," the President said recently.
Senator Webb was a guest on NBC's Meet the Press yesterday, at which this amendment was discussed. Click here for the video.
Senator Warner discussed the proposal as well on ABC's This Week.
A full copy of the historic Warner/Lugar amendment (including Senator Warner's signature across the front) is attached to this post.
Jun 22 2007 - 12:06pm
Per your request dear readers, we have outfitted the Sorensen Blog with a new Search feature (to the left on this page). You will find it easy now to locate past posts on pertinent points, personalities, podcasts, and pics. Enough alliteration, you get the idea. Enjoy!
