Staff Directory

Coy Barefoot is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon.com best-selling author. His books include Thomas Jefferson on Leadership and The Corner: A History of Student Life at the University of Virginia, which won the 2003 Nalle Prize for Outstanding History. He has written and reported for magazines and newspapers around the country as well as a long list of online publications. Coy has also worked in radio as a producer, investigative reporter, and talk show host. He is the host and producer of "Charlottesville--Right Now," a public affairs radio program that is broadcast on NewsRadio 1070AM WINA each weekday from 4-6pm.

(434) 243-2427, barefoot@virginia.edu

Tracy Tanner Bond comes to the Sorensen Institute in the summer of 2006 after twenty-two years of University Administrative experience. Tracy started work at The University in the Bursar's Office and starting in 1992 worked at the University Real Estate Contract Administrator.

(434) 982-4943, ttm@virginia.edu

Amber serves as our Events and Development Coordinator. She is responsible for the logistical arrangements for all of the Sorensen Institute's programs and special events. She also plans, develops, and runs the Candidate Training Program. Additionally, Amber provides support in the area of development, helping with donor stewardship and cultivation. She has experience working with non-profit organizations and political campaigns at the local, state and federal level, and has served as campaign manager and finance director.

(434) 982-5234, capron@virginia.edu

Before coming to Sorensen, Bob Gibson was the political writer at the Charlottesville Daily Progress for over 30 years, where he specialized in covering local, state, and national politics. He is the winner of several Virginia Press Association awards, the 1993 Virginia Bar Association Award in the Field of Law and Justice and the 1993 Southern Journalism Award for investigative reporting. He is also familiar to many Virginians as the host of WVTF Public Radio's Evening Edition program. 

(434) 982-4998, bob.gibson@virginia.edu

Marc serves as the Director of Youth Programs and Assistant to the Executive Director. He came to the Sorensen Institute in 2004 as the College Leaders Program Manager. Marc has primary responsibility for program planning, development and operations for the College Leaders and High School Leaders Programs. He also helps to coordinate programming, curriculum and speakers for the Political Leaders Program and staffs the state and regional boards.

(434) 982-4527, rmjohnson@virginia.edu

Colleen Smith joined the Sorensen Institute as Director of Development in September of 2007. She is responsible for developing and implementing the Sorensen Institute's fundraising objectives.

(434) 982-4910, cms3q@virginia.edu

Chris is responsible for recruiting and planning for the College and High School Leaders Programs. He has previously worked for the Sorensen Institute as a Manager for our Youth Programs in the summers of 2005 and 2006.

(434) 243-2470, christopher.wrobel@virginia.edu