Preudhomme at the 2022 White House Spring Garden Tour, April 10, 2022.
Preudhomme’s Radford University May 2019 graduation photo.
Heather Bell
WASHINGTON D.C. – When Geoffrey Preudhomme started his college career at Radford University he planned to pursue a career in animation.
A talented caricature artist at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Preudhomme was initially an art major at Radford. In 2016, however, he says he felt called to a life in politics – and he has never looked back.
“I was shocked into movement,” he said. “It was the aftermath of 2016 and then Charlottesville [Unite the Right rally of 2017] that inspired the revamping of the Radford University Young Democrats in 2017, spurring a revival of progressive politics. After being inspired by #MLK50 in 2018, I led the effort to elect the current Radford City Mayor, David R. Horton, in what was the highest municipal turnout in the state.”
Horton said Preudhomme has a bright future and brings his passion to everything he does.
“Since I first met Geoffrey in 2018 I have consistently been impressed with his passion to make a difference in this world,” said Horton. “When he lived in Radford, he was very active in local and regional government and his energy was electric. I believe his future is bright and that his work will benefit his community, the commonwealth and the country as he continues to strive for good government and leadership.”
In 2019, Preudhomme became President of the Radford University Young Democrats and won the Virginia Young Democrats Chapter of the Year.
“Later that year, I worked as an organizer in the 2019 Virginia General Election that elected Virginia’s first Democratic trifecta in 30 years, and I just wrapped up my time as a Legislative Aide in the Virginia House of Delegates.”
In March, Preudhomme was appointed by the Biden-Harris administration as Press Assistant for the United States Department of Agriculture. He was previously Press Assistant for the House Financial Services Committee from 2022-2023.
“As Press Assistant to the Director of Communications and Press Secretary, I participate with them on a variety of responsibilities that include press releases and media advisories,” he said.
Paige Tan, a Radford University political science professor, says Preudhomme has picked a career path perfect for him.
“Geoffrey was destined to work in politics,” said Tan. “At RU, he interned on a long-shot Democratic Congressional campaign in deep red southwest Virginia and turned the campus Young Democrats into the most outstanding chapter in the state.”
“He brings together a fire for the game of politics with a deep belief that he’s on the side of what’s right,” she added.
When former President Donald Trump visited Radford in 2016, Preudhomme was launched into the national political process and has been recognized for those efforts.
“I was added to the National Civil Rights Museum, Smithsonian-affiliate and the assassination site of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., permanent collection for pioneering one of the first large protests against Donald Trump at Radford University’s campus on February 29, 2016, after Trump refused to denounce former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke the day before,” he said.
Preudhomme said he feels proud to be involved in public service.
“I enjoy the fact that like myself, I am surrounded by diligent and hard-working public servants who are well intentioned, pure of heart, and love their country who only want the very best for all Americans, farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and rural communities like Radford, which is desperately needed in public service today,” he said. “Public servants who are dedicated to the public good who share USDA’s core values of equity, inclusion, and social justice. The executive department is full of staff with important purposes.”
“From programs dealing with nonprofits, housing, farmers, small businesses, and seniors, along with nutrition support programs like SNAP and WIC, I am proud to join one of the most important agencies in the entire executive branch.”
