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The Sorensen Institute hosted another installment of our Southside Public Leadership Series on Monday. Gov. Jerry Baliles spoke on leadership at Danville's Instiute for Advanced Learning and Research, focusing on the six things he believes political candidates need to be effective leaders: humility in power, hard work, public speaking skills, a broad education, knowledge of law and political enthusiasm.

The event, which attracted more than 50 people, was sponsored by the Sorensen Institute and the Danville Register & Bee.

Coverage of the event is available online at the Danville Register & Bee.

The Sorensen Institute is proud to announce the Youth Program Managers for our 2013 College and High School Leaders Programs:  Nathalie Navarette (CLP 2012, HSLP 2008), Michael Nolan (CLP 2012), and Dakota Thomas (CLP 2010).  The Program Managers help direct our College and High School Leaders Programs, which are held each summer on grounds at the University of Virginia.  They are critical to the success of the programs, providing on-site mentoring, instruction, and leadership to our students. 

Nathalie Navarrete, from Alexandria, Virginia, is a senior at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. She is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute’s High School Leaders Program (2008) and College Leaders Program (2012).  Currently, Nathalie works with grassroots organizations to educate and mobilize voters in New England and she also serves as a classroom assistant in the Lewiston-Auburn public school system. After conducting research on citizenship revocation in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, she recently finished her senior thesis on labor economic theory. Nathalie will graduate in the spring of 2013 with a double major in Political Economy and French & Francophone Studies.

Over his college career, Michael Nolan helped found the Phi Kappa Psi Virginia Eta chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University and has served as one of its past presidents, responsible for organizing, educating and motivating a large group of type A+ personalities. In the Virginia Legislative Session of 2012, he interned for The Honorable Delegate Beverly J. Sherwood as a part of Virginia Commonwealth Universities Capital Semester Program at the General Assembly.  Michael graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A and the Sorensen College Leaders Program in 2012.

Dakota Thomas is a graduating senior of the University of Virginia's College at Wise's Class of 2013.  As an undergraduate, he majored in Government/Political Science, and Psychology.  Dakota received an undergraduate research grant for work with the Peace Theses, focusing on the Middle East.  He served for four years as a First Year Mentor, an upperclassman who provides academic advising to incoming students.  In the past year, he has also served as a Resident Advisor for the Freshman class, helping incoming students adjust to life on campus and away from home.  He has also served as an assistant to a two week summer study abroad program in Dortmund, Germany.  Dakota is a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2010.

Leigh Middleditch, co-founder of the Sorensen Institute, presented Sorensen's first Founders Award at this month's Gala. Award-winner Walt De Vries' Institute of Political Leadership in North Carolina was the inspiration for the Sorensen Institute. De Vries was also responsible for bringing Middleditch and co-founder Michael Bills together in 1993.

Michael Pearlmutter, executive director of the Institute of Political Leadership in North Carolina, accepted the award on behalf of Walt De Vries.

 Members of the Sorensen Institute staff and regional boards have completed an exhaustive review of a record number of highly qualified applicants for admission to the 2013 College Leaders and High School Leaders Programs. We're proud to announce the College Leaders Program Class of 2013 and the High School Leaders Program Class of 2013! These students have proven themselves to be active and engaged citizens in their communities. We can't wait for them to join us in Charlottesville this summer!

College Leaders Program Class of 2013

Maggie Anderson, Roanoke College; Madison
Aaron Barden, Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond
Elias Bekri, Radford University; Moneta
Christopher Boden, Hampden-Sydney College; Washington, D.C.
Rachel Brooks, The College of William and Mary; Virginia Beach
Jory Bunn, Old Dominion University; Virginia Beach
Joniel Cha, The University of Virginia; Leesburg
Andres Chovil, George Mason University; Annandale
Kate Cude, Piedmont Virginia Community College; Charlottesville
Emily Dean-McKinney, The College of Wooster; Charlottesville
Chase Grogg, Hampden-Sydney College; Williamsburg
Brendan Hood, Virginia Commonwealth University; Colonial Heights
Toni Jones, George Mason University; Richmond
Zhina Kamali, Virginia Commonwealth University; Vienna
Daniel Ku, Virginia Commonwealth University; Fairfax
Max Maurer, Hampden-Sydney College; Oak Hill
Claire Nadolski, Lynchburg College; Virginia Beach
Colman Packard, Hampden-Sydney University; Charlottesville
Richard Pantele, Hampden-Sydney College; Richmond
David Snyder, Christopher Newport University; Fairfax
Stephanie Tipple, The University of Mary Washington; Warwick, RI
Blake Wheelock, The University of Virginia; Lynchburg
Andrew Whitley, Virginia Tech; Chilhowie
Jermayne Wright, Virginia State University; Norfolk

High School Leaders Program Class of 2013

Tyler Ambrose, William Fleming and Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, Roanoke
Sarah Ashman, Douglas S. Freeman High School, Richmond
Eric Asplund, Douglas S. Freeman High School, Henrico
Hayley Batten, Jamestown High School, Williamsburg
Jack Boettger, George C. Marshall High School, Vienna
Thomas Cannella, Poquoson High School, Poquoson
David Cohn, Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville
Mason Davenport, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Henrico
Alana Davitt, Norfolk Academy, Virginia Beach
Tim Dodson, Western Albemarle High School, Charlottesville
Sofa Getachew, Washington-Lee High School, Arlington
Oscar Guardado, James River High School, Richmond
Nicole Jackson, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Richmond
Isa Kivlighan, Stuart Hall School, Staunton
Emma Leeds Armstrong, Monticello High School, Charlottesville
Mattie Leibowitz, West Potomac High School, Alexandria
Rachel Lim, Deep Run High School, Henrico
Eddie Lin, Tallwood High School, Virginia Beach
Sarah Mosley, Yorktown High School, Arlington
Brian Murray, Cape Henry Collegiate School, Virginia Beach
Owen O’Hare, Carlisle School, Chatham
Meriwether Roberts, Collegiate School, Richmond
Amar Singh, South Lakes High School, Herndon
Rhea Somaiya, The Madeira School, Fairfax
Shaarada Srivatsa, Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville
Yash Tekriwal, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Glen Allen
Elisha Untiedt, Chilhowie High School, Marion
Peyton Wall, Fuqua School, Farmville
Sophie Webb, Western Albemarle High School, Charlottesville
Benjamin Zook, Loudoun Valley High School, Lovettsville

The 2013 Sorensen Gala on April 2 brought nearly 400 Virginians together in Richmond to honor our current and former Lieutenant Governors and Attorneys General.

Cooper Center director John Thomas began the evening with a heartfelt tribute to Sorensen's founding executive director Bill Wood, who passed away Nov. 16.

Watch the Newsroom for more video of this event in the upcoming week, and keep an eye on our Facebook page for a wealth of Gala photos coming soon.

Jerry Baliles, former Governor of Virginia, will speak in Danville on Monday, April 22, at the at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

Baliles, a native of Patrick County, will discuss his path to leadership as part of the Southside Public Leadership Series sponsored by the Sorensen Institute and the Danville Register & Bee.

The 7 p.m. talk, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a Sorensen reception. The public is invited to attend both the talk and the reception and to participate in the question-and-answer period. The media is welcome and cordially invited to attend.

Baliles is Director and CEO of the Miller Center, a nonpartisan institute that seeks to expand understanding of the presidency, policy and political history, providing critical insights for the nation’s governance challenges.

He previously served as a Virginia legislator, Attorney General and Governor. During his tenure as Governor, he served as Chairman of the National Governors Association.

Baliles serves on the Boards of Altria and Norfolk Southern, is on the board of the Council on the Study of the Presidency and Congress, served as Chairman of PBS for multiple terms, and has served on several other civic and corporate Boards, including Newport News Shipbuilding, the Nature Conservancy in Virginia, the Virginia Historical Society, and the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education. 

Congratulations to the Candidate Training Program Class of 2013, who graduated this Sunday in Millwood, Va.

Lettie Bien – Charlottesville
Tawana Campbell – Spotsylvania
Freeda Cathcart – Roanoke
Katie Cyphert – Lynchburg
Todd Divers – Charlottesville
Michael Futrell – Woodbridge
Clay Gravely – Martinsville
Jahangir Kabir – Brooklyn, NY
Jeremy McPike – Woodbridge
Jesse Rosenbaum – Alexandria
Matt Scoble – Burke
Robert Short – Lynchburg 

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership will host its annual Spring Gala on Tuesday, April 2 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

This year's event honors Virginia's Lieutenant Governors and Attorneys General. Speakers will include Mary Sue Terry, Jerry Kilgore, Don Beyer, John Hager and keynote speaker Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour.

You can have your business or organization sponsor a table! Contact Colleen Smith at 434-982-4910.

Visit sorensengala.com for directions, tickets and sponsorship opportunities.  

Gov. McDonnell and eight former Governors of Virginia at Sorensen's 2012 Governors Gala

You Are Invited!

What
The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
7th Annual General Assembly Reception

When
Tuesday, January 29
5:00pm - 8:00pm

Where
Hunton & Williams
Riverfront Plaza, East Tower, 20th Floor
951 East Byrd Street, Richmond

RSVP
By Tuesday, January 22
rachel.casebolt@virginia.edu

This event, which has become a must-attend gathering in the Richmond political social calendar, recognizes our alumni in the Virginia General Assembly. Sorensen is proud to honor our 22 alumni currently serving.

This event is free and open to all Sorensen alumni, supporters and members of the Virginia General Assembly.

Sorensen wishes to thank our Event Sponsors:
Advantus Strategies
Alliance Group
Hunton & Williams
Kemper Consulting
Lindl Corporation
Macaulay & Burtch
The Vectre Corporation
Virginia Association of Health Plans

*Image courtesy taberandrew

The Sorensen Institute is delighted to announce the names of those Virginians who have been accepted to the Political Leaders Program Class of 2013. The 2013 PLP will enjoy its first session together March 14-16 in Williamsburg.  Each of these Virginians has been recognized as an emerging community and statewide leader.  Congratulations to them all!

Katherine Acuff, Charlottesville
Lawrence Anderson, Richmond
Lettie Bien, Charlottesville
Jon Chasen, Locust Grove
Lee Coburn III, Glade Spring
Jacob Colley, Haysi
Tom Cosgrove, Williamsburg
Elizabeth Dietzmann, Virginia Beach
Frank Fannon, Alexandria
Tom Fitzpatrick, Richmond
Howard Foard III, Fairfax
Kimberly Geiger, Big Stone Gap
Danna Geisler, Chesterfield
Ross Grogg, Virginia Beach
Natalie Hart, Blacksburg
Carrie Hileman, Richmond
Mehmood Kazmi, Great Falls
Spencer Kimball, Alexandria
Patrick Knightly, Glen Allen
Lovely Lall, Leesburg
Ruth Larson, Williamsburg
Christopher Lindsay, New Kent
Andria McClellan, Norfolk
Suyong Min, Arlington
Barry Moore Jr., Chesterfield
Ashley Reynolds, Roanoke
Megan Rhyne, Williamsburg
Alejandra Santaolalla, Arlington
Thomas Scanlon, Arlington
Brandon Schall, Fairfax Station
Brian Schoeneman, Fairfax
Kanwar Singh, Richmond
Clarence Tong, Alexandria
Osmay Torres, Virginia Beach
Peg Willingham, Falls Church
Michael Wooten, Woodbridge