Our Next Speaker

The Honorable Kristen M. Nye, President, Richmond City Council; "My Year Leading the RVA City Council"

Richmond’s Government operates on the Council-Manager system. The City Council has 7 members elected at large to alternating 4-year terms. Kristen Nye is the current Council President.

Kristen grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communication with a bachelor’s degree in 1997.

After college she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the National Academy of Sciences in its Office of News and Public Information and for Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, America Online (AOL) and the Rubber Manufacturers Association.

Kristen and her family moved to Richmond in 2005. In 2008 while exploring kindergarten options for her son she found Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) -- Virginia's first elementary charter school. She served on the Patrick Henry board and as the school's spokesperson.

This experience led her to become more involved in Richmond's educational system and in 2012 she ran for Richmond School Board's 4th district. She won in a 5-way race and began her 4-year term in January 2013 serving as vice chair of the board in 2014 and 2015. 

Today Kristen is a member of the Richmond City Council in Virginia, representing Southwest 4th Voter District. She assumed office on January 3, 2017. Nye Larson ran for re-election and won in the general election on November 3, 2020. Her current term ends on January 1, 2025.

Kristen was named on Style Weekly’s Power List in 2014. She was also recognized by Style as Top 40 under 40 in 2012.