The Virginia Rural Center Announces Graduates of the 2025 Class of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute

In its fourth year, the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute expanded its reach through new community experiences and immersive learning across rural Virginia. 

October 22, 2025 (Tappahannock, VA) -- The Virginia Rural Center is proud to announce the graduation of the fourth cohort of the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI), the Commonwealth’s flagship leadership program focused on developing and empowering existing and emerging rural leaders.

Over the past six months, VRLI cohort members engaged in a comprehensive series of sessions held across Virginia’s diverse rural regions – including Southside Virginia, Southwest Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, the Middle Peninsula, and the Northern Neck. Each session featured expert-led discussions on key topics such as economic development, housing, education, healthcare, broadband access, and agriculture, while also offering immersive, place-based learning experiences with local leaders and community innovators. This year, the program expanded its reach by adding new stops in Luray for the Shenandoah Valley session, Halifax for the Southside session, Wytheville for the Southwest session, and made a return visit to St. Paul, where cohort members experienced the region firsthand through an ATV tour or kayaking along the Clinch River.

“In its fourth year, VRLI continues to prove its value by preparing a new generation of leaders who understand both the challenges and opportunities of rural life,” said Senator R. Creigh Deeds, Chair of the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia. “I look forward to seeing the impact this talented group will make as they put their experience and projects into action in their rural communities.”

Each VRLI participant completes a Community Impact Project as a capstone to the program. These projects, developed in partnership with wide range of mentors, the Virginia Rural Center staff, and the VRLI Advisory Committee, address issues such as public safety, food security, workforce development, youth engagement, senior support, and community revitalization. The initiative ensures that graduates not only gain leadership skills but also leave a tangible mark on their local communities.

“Through sessions held across five regions, this cohort of leaders deepened their connection to rural Virginia and gained insights from communities that have developed innovative solutions to local challenges,” said Kristie Proctor, Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Center. “Their community impact projects reflect the heart of VRLI by creating practical, lasting change for rural Virginia.”

The graduation ceremony, held in Tappahannock, brought together leaders and VRLI alumni from across the Commonwealth to celebrate this year’s class. Program speakers included Senator R. Creigh Deeds, Chair of the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia, Senator Emily Jordan, Vice Chair of the Center, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr, a member of the Center Board, and Bryan David, Chair of the Council for Rural Virginia.

The program’s success is supported by a network of partners who invest in rural leadership development through funding, recruitment, and program design. Current sponsors include Commonwealth Fiber Services, Danville Community College Foundation, Dominion Energy, The RiverLink Group LLC, Microsoft, Mid Atlantic Broadband Corporation, Virginia Housing, the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative. The Virginia Rural Center continues to expand this network to reach even more communities across the state.

“VRLI’s success comes from strong partnerships and a shared commitment to rural leadership,” said Bryan David, Chair of the Council for Rural Virginia. “This program continues to build a network of leaders who will help rural Virginia grow and thrive for years to come.”

The application window for the 2026 VRLI Cohort will open soon. Please contact varuralleadership@cfrv.org to learn more.

Graduates of the 2025 VRLI Cohort 

(Listed in Alphabetical Order by Last Name)  

* Scheduled to complete remaining program components in 2026

About the Virginia Rural Center: 

The Virginia Rural Center is a collaborative partnership of the Senator Frank M. Ruff Jr. Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia. These two organizations established a collective services agreement to work jointly toward the mission of economic prosperity for rural communities throughout Virginia. Together, the Senator Frank M. Ruff, Jr. Center for Rural Virginia and the Council for Rural Virginia work with federal, state, and local policymakers and regulators as well private sector stakeholders to improve economic opportunities and preserve the quality of life throughout rural Virginia. Learn more about the Virginia Rural Center or the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute online at www.cfrv.org or on Facebook at @VirginiaRuralCenter, X at @VARuralCenter, and Instagram at @varuralcenter or using the hashtag #VRLI & #GrowRuralVA.