Sarah Selvaraj-D'Souza Resigns From RA Board; Candidate To Fill Vacant Board Seat Sought

RESTON, VA — Former Reston Association Board of Directors President Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza resigned on Friday, after serving more than three years on the board.

At last Thursday's board meeting, Selvaraj-Dsouza told board members that she wasn't planning to run again when her current term as an at-large member ended in April 2024.

"My decision to resign from the Board of Directors is not the result of any disagreement with the operations, policies or procedures, but to focus on my family, my advocacy and Restonstrong," Selvaraj-Dsouza said, in a post on her Facebook page on Friday.

Related: RA Board Names New Officers; Farrell Tapped To Serve As President

Restonstrong is a community action group started during the early days of the pandemic. Among other issues, the all-volunteer organization has advocated for low-income housing for Reston's homeless population.

In her message on Facebook, Selvaraj-Dsouza also mentioned her recent appointment as the Hunter Mill District's representative to the Fairfax County Affordable Housing Advisory Counsel and her role as a board position on the Faith Alliance for Climate Change as other reasons for her deciding to step down.

Related: 5 Candidates Elected To 2023 Reston Association Board Of Directors

"I have appreciated the opportunity to serve on the board as both a Board Member and Board President, and wish you and RA the best as you continue to move forward," she said.

Selvaraj-Dsouza served one year as RA Board president. Following the swearing-in of new board members at April 2023's monthly meeting, Selvaraj-Dsouza's last official duty as president was to oversee the election of officers for the new board.

Although Selvaraj-Dsouza was nominated for a second one-year term as board president, at-large member John Farrell received more votes and was sworn in.

The RA Board will begin the process of choosing someone to fill the vacant at-large seat caused by Selvaraj-Dsouza's departure. The term of the new candidate will run until the 2024 RA Board election.

Below is the full text from Selvaraj-Dsouza's Facebook post:

My Fellow Board members, Committee Volunteers and RA Staff,

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to you today to tender my resignation from the Board of Directors of Reston Association, effective immediately.

My decision to resign from the Board of Directors is not the result of any disagreement with the operations, policies or procedures, but to focus on my family, my advocacy and Restonstrong. I have also recently accepted the role as the Hunter Mill District representative on the County's Affordable Housing Advisory Counsel and a board position on the Faith Alliance for Climate Change - in both positions I will be working directly in areas I'm passionate about - social justice, housing equality and environmental sustainability. I will continue to serve in my committee position on the Reston Associations Environmental Advisory Committee.

I have appreciated the opportunity to serve on the board as both a Board Member and Board President, and wish you and RA the best as you continue to move forward. Restonstrong was born as a by-product of my decision to run for the RA board and for that I am eternally grateful. The last 3 plus years have been an exercise in self-discovery - RA propelled me from a happy go lucky small business owner selling frozen custard and ceramics to a community activist championing for our neighbors' rights. It has been an absolute honor interacting with our members, representing their interests, liaising with our wonderful staff and volunteers - both old and new for the past 3 plus years. I will truly miss working with you all - the passionate discussions and exciting outcomes. Rest assured I will be following RA & the board and look forward to participating as an informed member.
Cheers,
Sarah Selvaraj-D'Souza