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Biography
Brief:
Tobin Van Ostern presently serves as the Network Associate for Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress. He graduated from The George Washington University where he received a degree in International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict and Security and a minor in Political Science.
While enrolled, Tobin used his interest in technology and politics to help start Students for Barack Obama (SFBO) in 2006; serving as Deputy Director in an effort to use Facebook as the launching-point for a grassroots effort to convince Senator Obama to run for President. After accomplishing this initial goal, Tobin became the group's National Director in its capacity as the official student wing of the Obama for America campaign, growing it to 1000 chapters nationwide.
Extended Biography:
Hailing from Richmond, VA, Tobin's first taste of political campaigning came in the 7th grade when he interned for Mark Warner's successful race for Governor. After being accepted into the Maggie Walker Governor's School, a Newsweek Top Twenty Public High School, Tobin became the youngest state gubernatorial appointee when he was selected by Governor Warner to sit on the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation's Board of Trustees, which focuses on decreasing smoking among youth.Following this interest in government, Tobin helped lead the state's non-partisan Mock Election program while in high school in an effort to increase the number of young voters.
He also served as an intern for the successful Kaine for Governor campaign during this time.
Upon graduating, Tobin earned the Pogue Scholarship for Excellence in Government and International Studies and enrolled at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Once at school, Tobin used his interest in technology and politics to help start Students for Barack Obama (SFBO) in 2006; serving as Deputy Director in an effort to use Facebook as the launching-point for a grassroots effort to convince Senator Obama to run for President. After accomplishing this initial goal, Tobin became the group's National Director in its capacity as the official student wing of the Obama for America campaign, growing it to 1000 chapters nationwide.
Today Tobin serves on the Board of Advisors for Politics Under 30, an organization dedicated to helping the young people of today become the political leaders of tomorrow. He also serves as the Network Associate for Campus Progress, the youth arm of the Center for American Progress.
Speaker, New Media & Fundraising, CompassDC, Washington, DC, 2010
Panelist, New Media & The White House, The Washington Center, Washington, DC, 2010
Speaker, New Media & Organizing, Active Minds Conference, Washington, DC, 2009
Guest Lecturer, The George Washington University, Politics and Elections Class, Washington, DC, 2009
Panelist, Politics Online Conference,
Kids These Days: Powering the Youth Vote, Washington, DC, 2009
Panelist, PowerShift, 2009 Annual Conference, Empowering Youth Panel, Washington, DC, 2009
Guest Lecturer, The George Washington University, Politics and the Internet Class, Washington, DC, 2009
Panelist, ONE Campaign, Power ONE Hundred Conference,
Student Organizing Panel, Washington, DC, 2009
Keynote Speaker, DoSomething.Org, Bootcamp Conference,
Washington, DC, 2009
Panelist, DoSomething.Org, Bootcamp Conference,
New Media Panel,
Washington, DC, 2009
Featured Speaker, Friends of the World Food Program, Grassroots Roundtable, Washington, DC, 2008
Guest Lecturer, The George Washington University, Politics and Elections Class, Washington, DC, 2008
Panelist, Democratic National Convention,Youth Panel,Denver, CO, 2008
Instructor, Camp Obama Training, New Media Session,
Chicago, IL,
2007
Instructor, Camp Obama Training, Youth Session,
Chicago, IL, 2007