Resources Faculty & Staff Directory Ian H. Solomon Dean, Batten School This year, we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. We were founded with the vision to develop a new generation of leaders capable of bringing about transformational change The ambition was to cultivate leaders who would set high ethical standards and challenging organizational goals, who would demonstrate an abiding commitment to American democratic valuesand reinvigorate the traditions of public service, civic engagement and effective governance. Unique among public policy schools, our founding mandate emphasized leadership. In addition to being very well trained in the analytical skills of problem solving, our graduates would be leaders to drive the policy innovation process, energize organizations, build inclusive coalitions and translate good ideas into action. For the past fifteen years, we have been living this vision as we have grown in size, service and impact. Students come because they want to improve lives and serve others. Our faculty, who are brilliant educators, advance cutting-edge research to solve critical public policy challenges. Our community demonstrates curiosity, humility, purpose and action for the common good. With unique events, stories of service and moments of reflection, I hope you will join me this year as we celebrate our successes and continue to shape the future. Batten 15th Anniversary Video Lecture Series SEP 13, 2022 Batten Showcase 2022: What is Leadership? ft. Eileen Chou Leadership In this lecture, assistant professor of public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Eileen Chou, shared what "leadership" is and how we can (or can not) measure it. Learn more SEP 19, 2022 Batten Showcase 2022: Family and Medical Leave Policies in the US: Where We Are and How We Got Here ft. Chris Ruhm Health Policy In this lecture, professor of public policy and economics at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Chris Ruhm, discusses family medical leave policy in the United States. Ruhm looks at where we are now, how we got here and how to move forward. Learn more Sep 21, 2022 Batten Showcase 2022: Innovations to Transform the Lives of Youth ft. Ben Castleman Education In this lecture, associate professor at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Ben Castleman, shares innovations that transform the lives of youth worldwide, and walks the class through the nuances and unidentified consequences of these innovations. Learn more View All Batten 15th Anniversary News Sep 20, 2022 President Hinton, Dean Solomon Discuss Leadership with Students and Community Members Leadership In front of an enthusiastic crowd in Garrett Hall, Mary Dana Hinton, President of Hollins University, and Ian Solomon, Dean of the Batten School, discussed various topics on leadership, including being authentic and vulnerable as well as showing compassion towards oneself and others. Learn more Oct 19, 2022 Dean Solomon Shares the Batten School Approach to Leadership Education Batten School Dean Ian Solomon shared with a crowd gathered for UVA's Lifetime Learning series the unique approaches utilized at the Batten School when preparing students for a future of public policy and leadership. Learn more Batten 15th Anniversary Profiles In Public Service Oct 16, 2023 Living With a Public Service Mindset Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) spoke to 150 students and community members about holding a mindset of public service -- engaging with community and country -- no matter what career path one chooses. Learn more Oct 11, 2023 Values are Foundational to Effective Leadership From waging a war to writing a letter, or navigating any situation in between, leaders who stay true to their values and the nation’s values, and exhibit their integrity and humanity will be the ones who are successful, said Tom Monheim, Inspector General of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Learn more Mar 08, 2023 Profile in Public Service: Chloe Cohen (MPP ’20) builds career around housing and public policy Chloe Cohen (MPP '20) utilized her Batten experiences and research opportunities to launch her career as a a senior budget analyst on Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s budget team, focusing on housing and economic development agencies. Learn more Dec 07, 2022 Profile in Public Service: A Passion for Education and Community Impact Drives Andrew Bishop (MPP ’20) Andrew Bishop (MPP '20) relies on lessons from his Batten education, including foundational knowledge in education policy, ability to analyze complex data sets and the leadership and presentation skills to explain complex solutions, in his role today in the Richmond school system. Learn more Nov 02, 2022 Profile in Public Service: James Cathro (MPP ’16) Brings Passion for Service to His Role at the Batten School James Cathro (MPP '16) is currently the director of finance and administration at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, but as a graduate of the Batten School and currently a U.S. Naval Reserves Officer, he brings a heart of servant leadership to all he does. Learn more Oct 12, 2022 Profile in Public Service: Althea Pickering's Purpose ‘Came Together’ at Batten While at the Batten School, Althea Pickering (Col ’17, Batten ’18) discovered a way to bring her passions together in a field she feels strongly about. Today, she is a logistics officer for the United Nations World Food Programme in South Sudan. Learn more Sep 14, 2022 Profiles in Public Service: Asha Chadha Fine-Tuned Her Voice at Batten Asha Chadha (BA ’20) taught sixth grade math through Teach for America and recently entered law school seeking ways to do more to address the issues her students faced. Learn more 15 Years in Photos Members of the second graduating class from Batten gather at the end of orientation. When Garrett Hall reopened in 2009 after extensive renovations, the Batten School gained a new space large enough for faculty and staff offices and a main event space – the Great Hall. Class photo of the first BA class at Batten. During Batten’s CIBO (graduate student orientation), members of the first year class celebrated the end of the first week of orientation with a cookout and games with members of the Batten faculty and staff and their families in August 2021. Members of the second MPP class attending orientation in the Miller Center. As a part of the XX amount renovation, Garrett Hall was transformed back to its open concept two story gathering space (known now as the Great Hall). Originally designed as UVA’s first dinner hall, this room now is the main event space for the school. The Batten School hosted former Virginia Senator Jim Webb to speak to the Batten community. Former Dean Harry Harding hosted faculty, staff, students, and guests in the Rotunda for a presentation. MPP students presenting a class project in Garrett Hall. Members of the second MPP class gather for their orientation over in the Miller Center. Members of the first postgraduate MPP class went on a rafting trip for the MPP leadership retreat in 2012. Students highlighted their culture with the International Fashion Show in 2014. Batten MPP students having fun with Batten Ball 2020, a reimagined event due to the pandemic. Members of the second graduating class from Batten gather at the end of orientation. Students in Paul Martin’s NGO class present their findings on local non-profits working on homelessness. During Batten’s CIBO (graduate student orientation), members of the first and second year class had a chance to get to know each other before the start of classes in August 2021. David Brenneman, the founding chair of the Batten School, meets alumni of the Batten School. Batten student Mairin Shea (BA ’20) also experienced the fast-paced work environment of a U.S. Embassy this past summer. Shea completed an eleven-week internship at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin, where she worked for the U.S. Commercial Service, the promotional arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Thanks to the generous support of the Frederic S. Bocock fellowship, a fund that provides financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students interested in working for the federal government, Shea was able to accept the internship. Previous Next #Batten15 Collection Batten community: show what you are up to! Share your memories using '#Batten15' on social media to see it here. View Timeline 15 Years of Frank Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy GIVE NOW Support The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy Upcoming Events See All Events Stay Up To Date with the Latest Batten News and Events Subscribe to Our Newsletters View All
SEP 13, 2022 Batten Showcase 2022: What is Leadership? ft. Eileen Chou Leadership In this lecture, assistant professor of public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Eileen Chou, shared what "leadership" is and how we can (or can not) measure it. Learn more
SEP 19, 2022 Batten Showcase 2022: Family and Medical Leave Policies in the US: Where We Are and How We Got Here ft. Chris Ruhm Health Policy In this lecture, professor of public policy and economics at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Chris Ruhm, discusses family medical leave policy in the United States. Ruhm looks at where we are now, how we got here and how to move forward. Learn more
Sep 21, 2022 Batten Showcase 2022: Innovations to Transform the Lives of Youth ft. Ben Castleman Education In this lecture, associate professor at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Ben Castleman, shares innovations that transform the lives of youth worldwide, and walks the class through the nuances and unidentified consequences of these innovations. Learn more
Sep 20, 2022 President Hinton, Dean Solomon Discuss Leadership with Students and Community Members Leadership In front of an enthusiastic crowd in Garrett Hall, Mary Dana Hinton, President of Hollins University, and Ian Solomon, Dean of the Batten School, discussed various topics on leadership, including being authentic and vulnerable as well as showing compassion towards oneself and others. Learn more
Oct 19, 2022 Dean Solomon Shares the Batten School Approach to Leadership Education Batten School Dean Ian Solomon shared with a crowd gathered for UVA's Lifetime Learning series the unique approaches utilized at the Batten School when preparing students for a future of public policy and leadership. Learn more
Oct 16, 2023 Living With a Public Service Mindset Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) spoke to 150 students and community members about holding a mindset of public service -- engaging with community and country -- no matter what career path one chooses. Learn more
Oct 11, 2023 Values are Foundational to Effective Leadership From waging a war to writing a letter, or navigating any situation in between, leaders who stay true to their values and the nation’s values, and exhibit their integrity and humanity will be the ones who are successful, said Tom Monheim, Inspector General of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Learn more
Mar 08, 2023 Profile in Public Service: Chloe Cohen (MPP ’20) builds career around housing and public policy Chloe Cohen (MPP '20) utilized her Batten experiences and research opportunities to launch her career as a a senior budget analyst on Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s budget team, focusing on housing and economic development agencies. Learn more
Dec 07, 2022 Profile in Public Service: A Passion for Education and Community Impact Drives Andrew Bishop (MPP ’20) Andrew Bishop (MPP '20) relies on lessons from his Batten education, including foundational knowledge in education policy, ability to analyze complex data sets and the leadership and presentation skills to explain complex solutions, in his role today in the Richmond school system. Learn more
Nov 02, 2022 Profile in Public Service: James Cathro (MPP ’16) Brings Passion for Service to His Role at the Batten School James Cathro (MPP '16) is currently the director of finance and administration at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, but as a graduate of the Batten School and currently a U.S. Naval Reserves Officer, he brings a heart of servant leadership to all he does. Learn more
Oct 12, 2022 Profile in Public Service: Althea Pickering's Purpose ‘Came Together’ at Batten While at the Batten School, Althea Pickering (Col ’17, Batten ’18) discovered a way to bring her passions together in a field she feels strongly about. Today, she is a logistics officer for the United Nations World Food Programme in South Sudan. Learn more
Sep 14, 2022 Profiles in Public Service: Asha Chadha Fine-Tuned Her Voice at Batten Asha Chadha (BA ’20) taught sixth grade math through Teach for America and recently entered law school seeking ways to do more to address the issues her students faced. Learn more