Rep. Mary Ann Santos Completes Georgia Legislative Leadership Training Conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia

ATLANTA - State Representative Mary Ann Santos (D-McDonough) recently joined other new legislators from across the state for the Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute (GLLI). Nominated members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia State Senate attended sessions at the UGA Center for Continuing Education and Hotel in Athens, Georgia.

"As a first-term legislator, I am very thankful to Speaker Jon Burns for nominating me, and to the Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute, its staff and leaders who made this possible," said Rep. Santos. "This experience reminded me of the strength we have when we come together as one Georgia and the importance of always learning as we serve."

The GLLI was developed and authorized by the Georgia General Assembly Training Institute in 2005 to provide an opportunity for new lawmakers to explore the leadership challenges of representative government with faculty from the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, legislative leaders and colleagues. As an extension of the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, GLLI is a component of the Institute of Government's leadership development efforts specifically designed for members of the Georgia General Assembly.

This year, lawmakers learned leadership lessons from House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) and Brad Vaughan, Legislative Director and Counsel for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. New legislators also had the opportunity to work with experts from the National Institute for Civil Discourse to explore best practices for engaging in public discourse.

The program, supported by the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, is designed to help legislators address key elements of personal and public leadership as they carry out their roles and responsibilities as elected representatives.

Since its inception, more than 230 legislators have participated in GLLI, and 120 still serve in the General Assembly.

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government is a UGA Public Service and Outreach unit that provides customized assistance, applied research and professional development for government leaders and employees across Georgia.

Rep. Santos also provides the following Spanish translation of her press release:

"La Representante Estatal Mary Ann Santos (D-McDonough) se unió recientemente a otros legisladores novatos de todo el estado para participar en el Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute (GLLI). Los miembros nominados de la Cámara de Representantes de Georgia y del Senado Estatal de Georgia asistieron a sesiones en el UGA Center for Continuing Education and Hotel en Athens, Georgia.

"Como legisladora en mi primer mandato, estoy muy agradecida con el Speaker Jon Burns por nominarme, y con el Georgia Legislative Leadership Institute, su personal y líderes que hicieron esto posible," dijo la Rep. Santos. "Esta experiencia me recordó la fuerza que tenemos cuando nos unimos como una sola Georgia y la importancia de seguir aprendiendo mientras servimos."

El GLLI fue desarrollado y autorizado por el Georgia General Assembly Training Institute en 2005 para ofrecer a los nuevos legisladores la oportunidad de explorar los desafíos de liderazgo del gobierno representativo con profesores del UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, líderes legislativos y colegas. Como extensión del Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, el GLLI es un componente de los esfuerzos de desarrollo de liderazgo del Institute of Government, diseñado específicamente para los miembros de la Asamblea General de Georgia.

Este año, los legisladores aprendieron lecciones de liderazgo del Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) y de Brad Vaughan, Director Legislativo y Asesor de la Oficina del Lieutenant Governor. Los nuevos legisladores también tuvieron la oportunidad de trabajar con expertos del National Institute for Civil Discourse para explorar las mejores prácticas en el fomento del discurso público.

El programa, apoyado por la Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, está diseñado para ayudar a los legisladores a abordar elementos clave del liderazgo personal y público mientras cumplen con sus roles y responsabilidades como representantes electos.

Desde su inicio, más de 230 legisladores han participado en el GLLI, y 120 aún sirven en la Asamblea General.

El Carl Vinson Institute of Government es una unidad de Servicio Público y Extensión de la UGA que brinda asistencia personalizada, investigación aplicada y desarrollo profesional para líderes gubernamentales y empleados en todo Georgia."

*Editor's note: a photo of Rep. Santos and a photo of the representatives that participated in the GLLI are included.

Representative Mary Ann Santos represents the citizens of District 117, which includes a portion of Henry County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Judiciary, Juvenile and State Properties committees.

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