Staff

Tom Walls

Executive Director

Email: twalls@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-4998

Tom Walls joined the Sorensen Institute as Executive Director in 2016. His varied career includes roles in campaigns at every level, the legal and legislative arenas, and academia. As an attorney in Washington, DC, he helped clients to navigate policy challenges and matters of ethics, regulatory compliance, and congressional investigations. Tom served for ten years as an adjunct faculty member at the George Washington University Law School before joining Sorensen.

Tom has held senior staff posts for three U.S. Senators, most recently as Chief Counsel to Sen. Mark Warner. He served for ten years as a Partner at McGuireWoods LLP and Senior Vice President of Federal Public Affairs at McGuireWoods Consulting. Immediately before joining Sorensen, Tom held was a Principal in the Public Policy and Regulation group at Dentons US LLP in Washington, D.C. He is a 1987 graduate of the University Of Virginia School Of Law and earned a B.A. in English at UVA in 1982.

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Colleen Smith

Deputy Director and Director of Development

Email: cms3q@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-4910

Colleen Smith is a long-standing figure in the field of development and fundraising in the Commonwealth. She has held pivotal roles around Virginia for over 25 years, focusing on the expansion of deserving programs like the restoration of James Madison's Montpelier, Ash Lawn Opera, Tandem Friends School, and the University of Virginia's Darden School and McIntire School.

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Sarah Campbell

Administrative Coordinator

Email: sarah.campbell@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 243-2470

Sarah joined the Sorensen Institute full-time in May 2018. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Environmental Sustainability. As administrative coordinator, Sarah is responsible for logistical support for all programs, including recruitment and speaker scheduling. Previously Sarah has served as a Program Assistant and Development Intern for the Sorensen Institute.

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Lauren Gilbert

Associate Director and Director of Programs

Email: lauren.gilbert@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 243-2844

Lauren Gilbert has primary responsibility for overseeing all five Sorensen Institute programs, including curriculum development, recruitment execution, analysis and evaluation. Lauren is an alumna of Sorensen's College Leaders Program and a former Sorensen Youth Program Manager. She held the position of Director of Youth Programs and Recruitment Coordinator prior to her acceptance of the position of Director of Programs in January 2015. Lauren was named Associate Director of Sorensen in July 2017, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administration through Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy.

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Rachel Casebolt

Development and Events Coordinator

Email: rachel.casebolt@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-5234

Rachel is responsible for the logistical arrangements for all Sorensen Institute programs and special events. She also provides support in the area of development, helping with donor stewardship and cultivation. Before coming to Sorensen, Rachel oversaw the publications section of the National Drug Court Institute in Alexandria, Virginia. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and an alumna of the College Leaders Program.

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Tracy Tanner Bond

Office and Special Projects Manager

Email: ttm@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 982-4943

Tracy Tanner Bond has made a nearly thirty year career at the University of Virginia. Before joining Sorensen in 2006, her background at the University has been diverse, from experience in the Bursar's Office, Construction and Facilities Management and Real Estate Contract Administration. Her financial and administrative experience has been a wonderful resource in managing the financial operations for this non-profit organization.

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