People

April serves as the Assistant to the Director of Programs. In this role she has primary responsibility for coordinating and executing recruitment and outreach efforts for the College and High School Leaders Programs. She also provides other program support, including recruitment efforts for the Political Leaders Program and Candidate Training Program.

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.

As Development and Events Coordinator, 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 2005 graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she studied Government and Religion. She is also a graduate of the College Leaders Program Class of 2005.

Sonny Culverhouse Adjunct Faculty, Cooper Center for Public Service, U.Va., and city manager emeritus, Lynchburg, Virginia. Has a 37-year public service career as city manager, deputy city manager, and director of personnel and management services. Recipient of the 1996 ICMA Distinguished Service Award and the 1989 ICMA Clarence E. Ridley Award for In-Service Training. Served as trustee, Ferrum College; president, Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity; charter member, Senior Executive Institute Advisory Committee. Sonny received his education at RPI (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and Old Dominion University. He's also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the charter 1985 Senior Executive Institute. Noted for his natural abilities in counseling as well as his keen interest in the development of others, he's an Accredited Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

PJ Dempsey is Director of CTE Promotions with the Trailblazers project implementing strategies for recruitment and retention of Career and Technical Education students in nontraditional careers, especially girls into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at the secondary/postsecondary level. She is also a GIS Instructor training teachers to use GIS in their classrooms and administrators to use GIS for data analysis.

Tony Gardner Leadership Development Faculty, Cooper Center for Public Service, U.Va. Former County Manager of Arlington County, Virginia for over 25 years. Directed the initial phase of a partnership with Warsaw, Poland aimed at developing new and existing innovative local government practices. Two time recipient of the John F. Kennedy School of Government "Innovations in American Government" award. B.A. degree, Fordham University; M.A. degree, State University of New York-Albany.

Melanie is a learning resource developer and imagineer for the leadership programs, SEI and LEAD. She brings a creative flair and a whole new mind, heart and soul approach to the leadership experience. Mel has developed many inspirational and educational videos on a wide range of leadership themes. She incorporates poetry and music into the SEI and LEAD experience.

Mel is also very involved with VLGMA and provides staff support for this Association.

Thomas M. Guterbock, founding director of CSR received extensive training in quantitative, multivariate methods and has applied these in CSR research, publications and his applied work. In his role as senior project designer and project director for the Center, he has originated and implemented numerous studies, including many that involve either complex sampling, complex questionnaire protocols, or complex analysis strategies.

Dr. Guterbock is also Professor of Sociology, and Research Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia, where he teaches survey research methods at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Since joining the Cooper Center’s Richmond office in 2006, Chris has assumed a variety of responsibilities. He manages sales of the Handbook of Virginia Local Government Law, published by the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (LGA); coordinates the Virginia Institute of Government training programs; and maintains the Institute and LGA websites. Chris also works with the Center’s IT director to provide technical support for the Richmond office.

John is a professor emeritus whose work involves Tax Rates and The Virginia News Letter publications. His current areas of interest include economic development, regional economics, and state and local government finances. He provides advice and analysis of state conditions to both government and business organizations.

Felicia Logan is the Director of Professional Development at the International City/County Management Association located in Washington, DC. She also serves as ICMA Team Leader for the Southeast and as liaison to the Innovations Group. A member of the first class of women to be admitted to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Felicia received both her B.A. and M.A. from that institution. Recent accomplishments include her 2003 graduation from the Senior Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Va and the Innovation Group sponsored School for Leadership and Change. In 1990, she graduated from the Covey Leadership Institute in Sundance, Ut, and from the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Va in 1987.

Shizuka received a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1998 and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Virginia Curry School of Education in 2007. Since 1988, she has been an administrator in various functions at the International University of Japan (IUJ) and the University of Virginia. She was a Fulbright scholar in international education administration while at IUJ. She is also a certified ESL teacher in Japan and a 360 Performance Evaluation facilitator certified by the Center for Creative Leadership.

Her areas of practical and theoretical interest include the meaning of work, high-performing organizations, work motivation, change management, and process consultation. She came to UIP in June 2009.

Blue O'Connell is the Demographics & Workforce office assistant. Her tasks include database management, website maintenance, and general fiscal and clerical office duties.

Rachna has assisted with the University Internship Programs since Fall 2009. She majors in Political Science and American Studies and plans to further pursue those interests after graduating in May 2010.

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.

Justin has been a seminar instructor for the University Internship Programs since 2006. He received his master’s degree in Sociology from U.Va. in 2003 and his Ph.D. in Sociology from U.Va. in 2009.

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Leisa’s key responsibilities fall into two distinct areas. As conference and member services coordinator for the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (LGA), she plans and coordinates the association’s statewide conferences; regional seminars; and board of directors meetings and retreats. She is also responsible for the LGA’s web site, listserv, and database. As fiscal technician for the Cooper Center’s Richmond Office, Leisa is involved with procurement, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger.

Jenn has assisted with the University Internship Programs since Fall 2009. She is a Sociology major and plans to go into the Human Resources field after graduating in May 2010.

Overseeing a university-based public service center requires the ability to move between the often-different cultures of the academy and government. Since 1996, Center Director John P. Thomas has moved with ease between the two.

John has a doctorate in public administration and has been the executive director of the Florida Association of Counties, the National Association of Counties and the American Society for Public Administration. The mix of these worlds, practice and theory, provide an effective background for overseeing the Cooper Center's programs that link the University of Virginia with public affairs.

Policy Economist/ Lecturer - Center for Economic and Policy Studies & Department of Public Health Sciences, focusing on occupational licensure, rural workforce development, childhood obesity, and mental health law.

Zin White recently retired as the Human Resources Development Specialist for the City of Norfolk. During his fifteen years of service, Zin was a member of the organization development team working hands-on with Norfolk’s departments to realize the city’s vision of high performance and a revitalized work culture. His motto continues to be: “We can make a difference, and it begins with me.” Zin has been a key participant of the forum on Creating High Performance Government, which fosters peer networking among lead internal change agents within local governments. He is a graduate of the Management Excellence Program. Zin’s professional career has included public school teaching, 21 years of military service, sales, consulting, public speaking and counseling. He is a graduate of Florida A & M University and the Command and General Staff College.

Haiming has been a seminar instructor for the University Internship Programs (UIP) since AY 2009-10. Most recently he taught Sociology 480 during the Summer Session 2009, and he is currently teaching two sections of Sociology 4810 for the AY 2009-10. He earned a master’s degree in Sociology from U.Va. and is completing his Ph.D. in Sociology at U.Va.