Jonathan Alexander Newby (He/Any) is a graduate student studying both Urban & Regional Planning and Architecture (Urban Design) at Virginia Tech in Northern Virginia. Jonathan hails from Virginia, was raised in Chesterfield and attained a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary, where he majored in both American Studies (with honors) and Digital Studies (self-designed major). He also holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. His primary interests include public transit reform; sustainable urban design; equitable economic development; and higher education.

Highly engaged with his community, Jonathan is a dedicated advocate for marginalized people. He is a consistent voice for Black and Queer communities, using his connections and research expertise to educate all people on the need for authentic inclusion in all human endeavors. He is also active in his religious community as a progressive Christian, acting as a modern-day advocate for culturally- and theologically-diverse spirituality.