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“The current BOV has deliberately and continuously ignored calls from every corner of the Commonwealth,” Callsen told Charlottesville Tomorrow. “They have ignored what Abigail Spanberger has asked them to do, they’ve ignored the General Assembly — the very people who confirmed them — and they continue to act despite there being legal challenges. And not only that, they’ve ignored the very people that make UVA great, the workers, the staff, the alumni and the students,” she said. “It’s politicizing the governance of our public universities in a way that’s inappropriate.”

The governor-elect and Charlottesville-area delegates preview legislative goals that could affect students, renters and workers across Virginia in 2026

State Delegate Callsen and Senator Deeds called on UVA leadership to reverse the deal and "reject further federal interference."

“We should be investing in education, making it easier for students to succeed, not harder,” Del. Katrina Callsen said at the Aug. 13 press conference. “And Virginia deserves the leader that understands that; Winsome Earle-Sears is not that leader.”

“Her platform is based on rhetoric, not substance,” she added. “What I see is chaos: hacking away at funding without a plan means removing funding for programs like Head Start, reducing services and supports for students with disabilities.”

Del. Katrina Callsen, D-Albemarle, speaks at a Fifeville community gathering after a July Fourth shooting rocked the neighborhood

Del. Katrina Callsen and state Sen. Creigh Deeds, both Charlottesville Democrats, joined Laufer at the press conference, where all three thanked Ryan for his leadership and decried the Trump administration’s attack on the country’s longstanding tradition of academic freedom.

Callsen, in particular, raised concerns that UVa might only be the beginning of a “list of universities that are being targeted” by the Trump administration. She said she’s heard rumors George Mason University in Fairfax “is next.”

Del. Katrina Callsen (D-Charlottesville/Albemarle), who says:

“A sad day for higher education in our country. Trump’s actions are wildly inappropriate overreach. Colleges are places of learning, free thought, and opportunity – they should stay that way.”

Del. Katrina Callsen, D-Albemarle, added that while the news is currently focused on Ryan’s departure, she expects the pressure to expand to the governing boards of Virginia’s institutions, who are engaging in “ideological battles” impacting colleges.

“If anyone needs to be submitting a resignation, I would urge them to look at themselves,” Callsen said.

Callsen noted that if she had to choose one key metric to gauge the bill’s success, it would be the number of students taking Algebra by the 8th grade—generally seen as a critical milestone that opens doors to higher education and STEM-related careers.

“Witnessing Del. Callsen at work was an amazing lesson in how meticulous research and careful listening to the feedback of stakeholders can guide solutions for constituents,” Guardino said. “It was a highlight of my clinic experience to gain valuable training in public speaking and policy research through supporting Del. Callsen on this bill.”

“Whoever holds the governorship should certainly respect that passed legislation, especially bipartisan legislation,” Callsen said. “There’s no need to provide additional commentary about it not being good legislation. We need to be protecting women’s right and access to reproductive health care and keep politicians out of the doctor’s office.”

“I know Charlottesville Schools will handle this with grace and resiliency but it’s incredibly unfortunate to have to deal with all this turmoil from the Trump Administration,” said Callsen.

Del. Katrina Callsen talked about legislation to raise the minimum age for prosecution to 11.

"A very small child, a 5-year-old, a 6-year-old, they are not going to benefit from being incarcerated. They just aren't. They may benefit from services, from help and assistance, but incarceration is not going to accomplish our goals," Callsen said.

As your representative in the Virginia House of Delegates, it is my pleasure to provide you with a post-session update on the 2025 legislative session. This session was unique, as it took place amidst a backdrop of extraordinary federal uncertainty. While this lack of predictability can be problematic, it has deepened my resolve and commitment to protecting our communities and priorities.

The autoenrollment bill was sponsored by Virginia House of Delegates Democratic member Katrina Callsen, a former middle school math teacher, and approved by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in the Virginia legislature. Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed it into law this past week.

As a result, Virginia is likely the leading state in the nation to use state-level actions to encourage local districts to offer accelerated math opportunities to middle school students who are academically ready.