Virginia Thomas switches roles
Wife of Supreme Court justice steps in as counselor to the president
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: News
Virginia Thomas is switching job titles, lessening her role with the college and leaving more time for more personal entrepreneurial projects, the college announced this month.
Thomas was named counselor to President Larry Arnn, as of Oct. 1. She formerly served as the college's associate vice president for Washington operations at the Allen P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in D.C.
Thomas began working full-time for the college one year ago and since then has helped coordinate 44 events in the D.C. area and created three new programs at the center.
"I was coming up on a one year anniversary with the college and I love the mission and I love the people, but I feel a great threat is happening to our liberty in Washington," Thomas said. "I got a taste of entrepreneurship and I want to come up with some creative ideas."
As counselor to the president, Thomas will develop new ways to educate the public through the Internet and connect students to internships in the nation's capital.
"I'll still be involved in most anything that has to do with government relations," Thomas said. "I've got my eyes and ears open and I watch for opportunities for Hillsdale to collect with our allies in Congress."
Thomas' entrepreneurial plans include creating a Web site to help educate citizens about threats to their liberty, she said.
"I'm in a listening phase right now, talking to a lot of folks around the conservative movement," she said. "I'm asking about the gaps that people see."
David Bobb will continue to serve as director of the Kirby center and will take over some of Thomas' duties.
Thomas' counselor position was created specifically for her, President Larry Arnn said in an e-mail to The Collegian.
"These activities fit her developing interests and the need of the college that she has helped us to identify," Arnn said in the e-mail.
Thomas said that she has enjoyed her work with the college but will appreciate being able to do other work, as well.
"I'm very excited," she said. "I just really had to spread my wings a little further. I'm thrilled to have more opportunities but to have Hillsdale as a home base."
Renovations have begun on the Kirby center's new building and the Hillsdale College contingent will be able to move into the building in approximately 10 months, Arnn said.
Thomas was named counselor to President Larry Arnn, as of Oct. 1. She formerly served as the college's associate vice president for Washington operations at the Allen P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in D.C.
Thomas began working full-time for the college one year ago and since then has helped coordinate 44 events in the D.C. area and created three new programs at the center.
"I was coming up on a one year anniversary with the college and I love the mission and I love the people, but I feel a great threat is happening to our liberty in Washington," Thomas said. "I got a taste of entrepreneurship and I want to come up with some creative ideas."
As counselor to the president, Thomas will develop new ways to educate the public through the Internet and connect students to internships in the nation's capital.
"I'll still be involved in most anything that has to do with government relations," Thomas said. "I've got my eyes and ears open and I watch for opportunities for Hillsdale to collect with our allies in Congress."
Thomas' entrepreneurial plans include creating a Web site to help educate citizens about threats to their liberty, she said.
"I'm in a listening phase right now, talking to a lot of folks around the conservative movement," she said. "I'm asking about the gaps that people see."
David Bobb will continue to serve as director of the Kirby center and will take over some of Thomas' duties.
Thomas' counselor position was created specifically for her, President Larry Arnn said in an e-mail to The Collegian.
"These activities fit her developing interests and the need of the college that she has helped us to identify," Arnn said in the e-mail.
Thomas said that she has enjoyed her work with the college but will appreciate being able to do other work, as well.
"I'm very excited," she said. "I just really had to spread my wings a little further. I'm thrilled to have more opportunities but to have Hillsdale as a home base."
Renovations have begun on the Kirby center's new building and the Hillsdale College contingent will be able to move into the building in approximately 10 months, Arnn said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Virginia Thomas
posted 10/22/09 @ 8:10 PM EST
No issues with the article here; well done, but I do want young journalists...especially young women... to consider why the story or headline added my husband to this mix. (Continued…)
Hugh
posted 10/27/09 @ 11:49 AM EST
I think Hillsdalians' tendency to associate Virginia Thomas with her husband has less to do with sexism than it has to do with bolstering our DC street cred. (Continued…)
Post a Comment