Who We Are
The Blue Ridge Center is a collaboration between concerned students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the Charlottesville community who love UVA and want to see it be the best it can be.
Gerard Alexander
President
Gerard Alexander has taught at UVA since 1997 and has been a tenured professor in the Department of Politics since 2002. He’s a specialist in comparative politics, especially Western Europe. In addition to academic writing, he has published articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Review, and other publications.
Stephanie Merrick
Director
Stephanie Merrick lives in Crozet, Virginia, with her husband and three children. Prior to joining the Blue Ridge Center, she spent twelve years as an editor at an online political news site. She graduated from the University of Michigan.
Chris Tomlin
Director Emeritus
Chris is a co-founder of the Blue Ridge Center and served as our first director until 2024 when he departed to attend UVA Law. Chris continues to be involved with the Center.
Sidney Seybold
Associate Director
Sidney Seybold is from Winter Park, Florida. She graduated from UVA in 2025 with a B.A. in History and a minor in Public Policy & Leadership. She enjoys baking, fellowship, and finding new farmers markets. For more information, check out her website sidneyseyboldofficial.com.