At the heart of every Sorensen program are three central themes: ethics in public service, the power of bipartisanship, and a concentrated study of public policy issues. Our non-partisan mission is to strengthen and enhance the quality of governance at all levels throughout Virginia.
Please note that due to the ongoing pandemic, the Sorensen Institute will hold its 2021 programming during the second half of 2021. We will NOT be conducting our Candidate Training Program and our Emerging Leaders Program in 2021. Further information about our 2022 programs will be available soon. Applications for the 2022 Political Leaders Program will be available in mid-September 2021.
If you would us to contact you regarding program updates, please visit our referral page and submit your contact information.
This flagship program is for leaders who want a broad-based, in-depth understanding of Virginia's regions, politics, and governance.
Develops and upgrades skill sets for younger leaders who either work in government or want to increase their public service involvement.
Provides an intensive focus on winning campaign fundamentals for those who want to run for office or run a campaign.
Actively engages high school students from across Virginia in developing leadership skills and learning how to engage in public policy and politics.
The 22nd Century Scholars Program is a 5-week virtual internship for UVA students offered in partnership with the UVA Institute of Democracy.
Program Applications
| Program | Applications Open | Applications Close | Link to Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd Century Scholars Program | |||
| Candidate Training Program | Tue, March 10, 2020 | Wed, June 10, 2020 | |
| Emerging Leaders Program | Fri, July 17, 2020 | Tue, August 18, 2020 | |
| High School Leaders Program | Wed, April 7, 2021 | Mon, May 17, 2021 | |
| Political Leaders Program | Tue, September 22, 2020 | Mon, November 9, 2020 |
