Tonya N. Jefferson

Tonya N. Jefferson (Col ’93 CM) co-founded the non-profit Virginia Africa Partnership during late summer of 2021, and is currently the Vice President, Government Liaison and Resource Mobilization. The Virginia Africa Partnership (VAP) strives to boost trade and investment opportunities between Virginia and Africa by providing market research; helping companies identify new markets via trade mission; connecting them to potential business partners, customers, or distributers; fostering minority and women-owned small business; and facilitating the transfer of technology for the transformation of natural resources designed to increase trade and spur growth. The collaboration of higher educational institutions and the promotion of siter-cities initiatives will cement that long-term partnership.

Jefferson applied to the Clinton Global Initiative University as a George Washington University doctoral student on the due date, Jan. 26, 2022, which was exactly two days after she learned of the opportunity, and was accepted into the 2022 cohort as a result of her thoughtful, thorough and compelling application. Her Commitment to Action plan included all four of VAP’s current projects: Leadership and STEM Awards Ceremony to be held on June 11, 2022; Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Exchange to be held from July 10 through Aug. 10, 2022; Higher Education Leadership Conference to be held from Oct. 5 through Oct. 7, 2022; and Entrepreneurship Academy, in addition to a few new projects and partnerships.