Alumni

Overview

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership is proud to have over 1,200 graduates of our various programs. Our alumni set inspiring examples of leadership as they come forward to make democracy strong here in Virginia. Whether they serve in elected office, have been appointed to a board or commission, or take an active role in their communities, Sorensen graduates have a deep appreciation for the civic responsibilities we all share as Americans. From 17 to 70, all our alumni are earnestly commited to public service.

Seventeen Sorensen alumni have been elected to the Virginia General Assembly— 16 of whom currently serve. Dozens more have been appointed to boards and commissions, while nearly 100 have been elected to local office. In the November 2007 elections alone, a record 48 Sorensen graduates won elected office: 18 Democrats, 18 Republicans, and 12 Independents. In the November 2009 elections,  four graduates of our 2009 Candidate Training Program won seats in the Virginia General Assembly— 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats— all four of whom were new to state-level campaign politics. Other alumni are serving in critical positions of leadership in nonprofits, local governments or in the private sector. You can browse our complete alumni listings and learn more about graduates of the Sorensen Institute by clicking on the links to the left.

Political Leaders Program (PLP)
Of the 509 graduates of the Political Leaders Program, 76 have served in elected office around the Commonwealth, including 13 in the Virginia House of Delegates and two in the Virginia Senate; more than 55 have been appointed to state boards and commissions. Of those 509 people who have graduated from the PLP since it began in the spring of 1994, 479 still live and work in the Commonwealth.

Candidate Training Program (CTP)
Of the 287 graduates of the Candidate Training Program, 67 have served in elected office around the Commonwealth, including one in the Virginia State Senate and 12 in the Virginia House of Delegates; 24 have been appointed to state boards and commissions. Of the 287 CTP alumni since the program launched in 1999, 204 still live and work in Virginia. Fifty-nine of our alumni have graduated from both the PLP and CTP, and of those, 16 have been elected to office, including five members of the Virginia House of Delegates, and nine have been appointed to boards or commissions.

College Leaders Program (CLP)
Of the 234 graduates of the College Leaders Program, 26 have served as Student Body President or Class President at their universities; 37 work in public service, including in the Governor's Office, in the Virginia General Assembly, in the White House and on Capitol Hill; one has been a Rhodes Scholar and one a Coro Fellow; 18 have served as Governor's Fellows and two have been appointed to state boards or commissions.

High School Leaders Program (HSLP)
Of the 148 graduates of the High School Leaders Program, 77 are still in school and 71 have graduated, 50 of whom have gone on to study at Virginia colleges and universities, including the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, the College of William & Mary, James Madison University, George Mason University, the University of Mary Washington, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Two HSLP alumni have already been appointed to a state board or commission.

Danville—Southside Program

From 2001 to 2005 the Sorensen Institute partnered with the E. Stuart James Grant Charitable Trust to offer a training program specifically created for emerging political and community leaders in the Danville—Southside region. Sixty-two community leaders graduated from this program, including four who have gone on to graduate from another Sorensen program. Click on the links below to browse the alumni of the Danville—Southside.

Class of 2001     Class of 2002     Class of 2003     Class of 2004     Class of 2005

Alumni Reunion

The Sorensen Institute hosts an Alumni Reunion each fall to celebrate the continued achievements of our graduates. This event typically draws hundreds of our alumni from across the Commonwealth. The Sorensen Alumni Reunion is held in Richmond in October. For the latest information about this year's celebration and for media and news of past reunions, check out our Events page.

Trust, Civility and Respect in Politics