Student Leader Named UVA’s 34th Truman Scholar

“In my experience, the best leaders embody grit and grace in equal measure,” he said. “Lisa personifies grit and grace, and she is one of the most selfless, authentic and accomplished student leaders I have known. She inspires trust through her competence, openness through her compassion and commitment through her own devotion to principled endeavors.”

A native of Castro Valley, California, Kopelnik said she strongly resonated with the Truman Foundation’s mission of cultivating passionate public servants.

“Ever since coming to UVA, I have committed myself to student self-governance and in showing up as a citizen of this community,” Kopelnik, a Jefferson Scholar, said. “At UVA, we have unique agency in shaping our experiences and institutions, and I think it’s also our responsibility to leave the community better than we found it.”

Sidney Milkis, the White Burkett Miller Professor of Politics and director of the Honors Politics Program, praised Kopelnik.

“She organized UVA’s first free speech panel, enlisting experts to educate students about the need to balance individual rights and responsibility to the community, the limitations of free speech and the difficulties of preventing vigorous debate from degenerating into hate speech,” Milkis said.

Andrus G. Ashoo, director of the Office of Citizen Scholar Development, said Kopelnik has been a model student. “She humbly approaches her studies with hard work, intentionally seeks new ideas and perspectives, spends time with those with whom she disagrees, and she has taken risks to put herself in uncomfortable situations,” he said. “She will make an excellent public servant.”