Racial Justice and Equity About Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Racial Justice and Equity We are in the midst of an important national reckoning on race and injustice in America. Whether this historic moment proves to be a turning point for our nation or merely another episode in the painful chronicles of violence and apology will depend on what we decide to do together and how hard we are willing to work. At the Batten School, we are committed to developing the kind of people and ideas that will solve humanity’s toughest challenges. We are called not just to observe, but to participate in the change we wish to see. In confronting issues of racial justice and equity, we have an opportunity to bring forward the very best thinking of our social psychology and leadership colleagues, our economists, our political scientists, our public administration and democracy scholars, and our policy and action practitioners. With the commitment of our faculty, and our students and alumni, we are eager to contribute meaningfully to this national dialogue, with courage, ambition, humility, and hope. Below is a collection of recent activities on this issue by the Batten community. These are neither the beginning nor the end of our efforts. Please continue to visit this page as new work is posted, but more importantly, please get involved. Join us in a spirit of common purpose to spur, enact, and sustain foundational change. Dean Ian H. Solomon Research and Commentary Oct 30, 2020 Brian Williams on the Past and Present of Racism in the Administrative State Racial Justice and Equity Political Science Historic harms—discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, affect public perception of governmental institutions and their public administrators. Batten's Brian N. Williams speaks to how we could change American institutions and their public servants in the face of these harms. Read in The Regulatory Review Aug 05, 2020 New Research Finds 'Systemic Barrier' to HIV Prevention in Southern States Healthcare Racial Justice and Equity Professor Sebastian Tello-Trillo, along with a team of researchers from UVA, have discovered that the South, the U.S. region with the most HIV infections each year, also has the greatest barriers to obtaining drugs that can prevent the disease for people who rely on Affordable Care Act insurance plans. READ IN UVA TODAY Jun 26, 2020 Professor Brian N. Williams Speaks on Police Brutality as 'Finch Podcast' Guest Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity Batten Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr. Brian N. Williams, discusses police-community relations, the Black Lives Matter movement, and equal justice through understanding as a guest on The Finch Podcast. Listen on The Finch Podcast Jun 19, 2020 Dean Solomon: Juneteenth Reflections Leadership Ethics Education Racial Justice and Equity Earlier this week Governor Northam of Virginia declared June 19 as a day to reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth. The University of Virginia and Batten School also honor this day. Read in Medium Jun 12, 2020 What Colleges and Universities Can Do to Improve Police-Community Relations Education Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity What can America’s higher education system do to reduce the use of excessive force among police? As a public policy scholar who examines the interplay between race, policing and public governance, I see multiple things that colleges and universities can do to make a difference. Read in The Conversation Jun 02, 2020 Dean Ian Solomon: “Today, again, I am overwhelmed with grief and rage…" Leadership Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity On June 2, Dean Ian Solomon shared his personal reflections on this moment of national crisis and conflict. Read in Medium News Nov 20, 2020 Corrective Action as Collective Action Leadership Racial Justice and Equity On UVA’s Lifetime Learning podcast, Batten professor Brian Williams argues that we should let diverse groups drive police reform. Listen on SoundCloud Nov 13, 2020 Through the Groundskeepers, Batten's Terrell Jana and teammates aim for lasting change in Charlottesville Racial Justice and Equity Leadership After violent protests in Charlottesville three years ago, and this year's latest push for racial and social justice, Batten's Terrell Jana and fellow teammates and coaches knew they had to do something to fight for change. Read on ESPN.com Oct 29, 2020 Leblang's "Pandemics Beyond the Headlines" Among Signature J-Term Courses Education Racial Justice and Equity Democracy This year, UVA's J-Term offerings feature interdisciplinary courses addressing some of today’s most urgent issues and team-taught by great professors across Grounds, including Batten's David Leblang. READ IN UVA TODAY Oct 22, 2020 Faculty Spotlight: From College Drop-Out to Action-Minded, Award-Winning Professor Leadership Advocacy Racial Justice and Equity Batten's Paul Martin teaches a course aimed at improving experiences for first-generation students at UVA, while also participating in a wide range of activities for the betterment of the Charlottesville community. READ IN UVA TODAY Oct 09, 2020 Batten Students Play Role in Retold, Celebrating Women at UVA Leadership Racial Justice and Equity As part of Retold, a University-wide effort to celebrate the women of UVA, Batten students Alyssa Candelmo, Karishma Srikanth, Martha Gallagher, and Jocelyn Willougby are sharing their stories. READ IN UVA TODAY Oct 02, 2020 A Hoo Without a Name – Just the Way this Batten Student Wants It Leadership Racial Justice and Equity A trip to the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers over the summer inspired Batten's Terrell Jana, the football team’s top receiver, to pay homage in an unexpected way. READ IN UVA TODAY Sep 23, 2020 How Can Private Capital Best Serve the Public Good? Social Entrepreneurship Social Equity Racial Justice and Equity When we think about the organizations making a positive change in the world, nonprofits usually come to mind. But in the latest installment of Expert Chats, Batten's Christine Mahoney argued that if we consider the private sector as well, we can address today’s global problems much more creatively. Learn more Sep 11, 2020 Holbein: U.S. school principals discriminate against Muslims and atheists, our study finds Social Equity Racial Justice and Equity According to a large‐scale correspondence study conducted by Batten's John Holbein and colleagues, anti-Muslim bias still operates widely nineteen years after the 9/11 attacks. Read in The Washington Post Sep 04, 2020 More Than a Backdrop Leadership Racial Justice and Equity Marlena Becker (BA ’21) shares how she helped redesign Batten Builds to start better addressing the needs of the Charlottesville community. Learn more Aug 26, 2020 Learning from Tragedy Racial Justice and Equity Leadership In 2017, a group of UVA deans and other members of the University community offered recommendations in the wake of the Unite the Right rally. Three years later, Risa Goluboff, dean of the law school, spoke with Dean Ian Solomon about what the group learned and how our nation has evolved. Learn more Aug 20, 2020 Remembering August 11th and 12th Racial Justice and Equity Last week, on the third anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, three witnesses spoke on a panel moderated by Batten’s dean, Ian Solomon. Now famous around the world, the rally spanned two days and brought white supremacists and counter-protestors together in a violent clash that killed one demonstrator and injured many others. Learn more Aug 17, 2020 August in Charlottesville: Excavating Memory, Truth, and Hope Racial Justice and Equity This week marked the third anniversary of the murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, VA. Ms. Heyer was a young woman peacefully demonstrating against crowds of white supremacists who had come to this college town with firearms and Nazi slogans to intimidate people, incite violence and, according to some participants, foment a race war. Read in Medium Aug 11, 2020 Racial Equity Task Force Releases Report, 12 Key Recommendations For Action Advocacy Leadership Racial Justice and Equity The University of Virginia’s Racial Equity Task Force today released its report, titled “Audacious Future: Commitment Required,” outlining 12 key initiatives to improve racial equity at UVA. READ IN UVA TODAY Jul 27, 2020 Making a Meaningful Commitment to Diversity Education Racial Justice and Equity Many institutions of higher education are looking to become more inclusive. But what’s the most effective way to do that—at the University of Virginia and elsewhere? Dana Laurens and Michael Dannenberg weigh in. Learn more Jul 20, 2020 From the Archives: Batten Awards John Lewis 2015 Medal in Citizenship Leadership Crime and Justice Democracy Racial Justice and Equity “Congressman Lewis exemplifies citizen leadership,” said Allan Stam, former dean of the Batten School. “From his days as a student leader to his co-founding of SNCC to his long career as an elected official, he has selflessly served the public good." Read in Monticello News Jul 14, 2020 Racial Equity Task Force Discusses Steps Forward, Learning From Past Recommendations Education Leadership Racial Justice and Equity The public session of the University’s Racial Equity Task Force featuring Dean Solomon occurred virtually Friday, over one month after a group of Black student activists and the Black Student Alliance sent separate list of demands to the task force. Read in Cavalier Daily Jul 02, 2020 How Can We End This Enduring Legacy? Political Science Democracy Racial Justice and Equity In the wake of past injustices, truth commissions offer divided communities the chance to reach a common understanding of their history. For his Applied Policy Project (APP) at Batten, George Rudebusch (MPP ’20, Law ’20) studied eight historical truth commissions from across the nation. Learn more Jun 30, 2020 Black Americans are Systematically Under-Treated for Pain. Why? Healthcare Racial Justice and Equity When it comes to the healthcare you receive, the color of your skin can make a significant difference, social psychologist Sophie Trawalter told an online audience last week. Learn more Jun 26, 2020 Committing to Advocacy Advocacy Racial Justice and Equity We all want to change the world, but where do we start? Irma Palmer (BA '10, MPP ‘15) offers some tips and tricks. Learn more Jun 25, 2020 Where Do We Go From Here? Leadership Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity “We’re at the intersection of past and present—and we're teetering a bit,” Batten professor Brian N. Williams told an online audience last week. “Evolution or revolution? Reform or riot? Progress or more protests? Should we defund and divest or deconstruct and reconstruct?” Learn more Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Next page Next › Events Nov 12 Democracy in Danger Podcast Series Live Broadcast: "Aftermath: Democracy in the Wake of 2020" NOV 12, 2020 2:00 PM Online via Zoom Join Siva and Will for a live recording of Democracy in Danger, a new podcast from UVA's Deliberative Media Lab. Learn more Oct 15 OAAA-Batten Interest Session OCT 15, 2020 6:00 PM Online via Zoom Join the Batten School Admissions team and current students from the Batten Ambassadors and Black Student Leaders in Policy to learn more about Batten’s major, minor, and Accelerated MPP! Learn more Oct 14 A Conversation With Jennifer McClellan ’97 on Race, Equity and Policymaking OCT 14, 2020 5:00 PM Online via Zoom Virginia Sen. Jennifer McClellan ’97 will offer a glimpse into the real-world and challenging task of policymaking to address racial inequities. McClellan, who has served in the Virginia General Assembly since 2006, is a Democratic gubernatorial candidate for the 2021 election. If elected, she will be the first woman to serve as governor of Virginia, and the first Black female governor in the nation. Learn more Oct 09 "Out in National Security" Career Panel OCT 9, 2020 11:00 AM Online via Zoom Join LGBTQIA+ veterans of the US Military, Departments of State and Defense, and The White House for this career panel focused on discussing what it's like to be "out" in the national security field. Learn more Oct 07 Socially Responsible Investing for UVA Employees OCT 7, 2020 4:00 PM Online via Zoom Systemic challenges -- like racism, sexism, climate change, and more -- require systemic solutions. This webinar aims to serve as a “how-to” that will help interested employees overcome barriers from not understanding their UVA benefits to feeling uncertain about how to pick the right mix of investment options. Learn more Oct 05 Virtual Batten Hour: Joshua Block OCT 5, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Please join us for a conversation with Joshua Block, staff attorney with the National ACLU's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Projects. Learn more Sep 21 Virtual Batten Hour: Civil Rights, Religious Freedom, and the Politics of Social Change with Anurima Bhargava, Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Join us for a conversation between Anurima Bhargava, Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Ian Solomon, dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Learn more Sep 14 Batten Hour: Scott Skinner-Thompson SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Please join us for Batten Hour, featuring Scott Skinner-Thompson. In his book Privacy at the Margins, Skinner-Thompson highlights why privacy is of acute importance for marginalized groups. He will speak to how examining limited privacy can enrich and enhance our lives at the margins in material ways and more. Learn more Sep 02 Batten Expert Chats: "Impact Investing - The Role of Private Capital in Achieving the Public Good" SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Whether we are discussing affordable housing, access to healthcare, racial equity, gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, forced displacement, or climate change, current and aspiring policymakers should see the private sector as a key partner, Batten professor Christine Mahoney argues. For the next installment of Batten Expert Chats, Mahoney will speak and take questions on how investments can act as an engine for positive social impact. Learn more Aug 31 Virtual Batten Hour with Dean Ian Solomon AUGUST 31, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Join us for the first Batten Hour of the year featuring a discussion with Dean Ian Solomon and student community members. More details to come. Join the conversation via Zoom. Learn more Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Next page Next ›
Oct 30, 2020 Brian Williams on the Past and Present of Racism in the Administrative State Racial Justice and Equity Political Science Historic harms—discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, affect public perception of governmental institutions and their public administrators. Batten's Brian N. Williams speaks to how we could change American institutions and their public servants in the face of these harms. Read in The Regulatory Review
Aug 05, 2020 New Research Finds 'Systemic Barrier' to HIV Prevention in Southern States Healthcare Racial Justice and Equity Professor Sebastian Tello-Trillo, along with a team of researchers from UVA, have discovered that the South, the U.S. region with the most HIV infections each year, also has the greatest barriers to obtaining drugs that can prevent the disease for people who rely on Affordable Care Act insurance plans. READ IN UVA TODAY
Jun 26, 2020 Professor Brian N. Williams Speaks on Police Brutality as 'Finch Podcast' Guest Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity Batten Associate Professor of Public Policy Dr. Brian N. Williams, discusses police-community relations, the Black Lives Matter movement, and equal justice through understanding as a guest on The Finch Podcast. Listen on The Finch Podcast
Jun 19, 2020 Dean Solomon: Juneteenth Reflections Leadership Ethics Education Racial Justice and Equity Earlier this week Governor Northam of Virginia declared June 19 as a day to reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth. The University of Virginia and Batten School also honor this day. Read in Medium
Jun 12, 2020 What Colleges and Universities Can Do to Improve Police-Community Relations Education Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity What can America’s higher education system do to reduce the use of excessive force among police? As a public policy scholar who examines the interplay between race, policing and public governance, I see multiple things that colleges and universities can do to make a difference. Read in The Conversation
Jun 02, 2020 Dean Ian Solomon: “Today, again, I am overwhelmed with grief and rage…" Leadership Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity On June 2, Dean Ian Solomon shared his personal reflections on this moment of national crisis and conflict. Read in Medium
Nov 20, 2020 Corrective Action as Collective Action Leadership Racial Justice and Equity On UVA’s Lifetime Learning podcast, Batten professor Brian Williams argues that we should let diverse groups drive police reform. Listen on SoundCloud
Nov 13, 2020 Through the Groundskeepers, Batten's Terrell Jana and teammates aim for lasting change in Charlottesville Racial Justice and Equity Leadership After violent protests in Charlottesville three years ago, and this year's latest push for racial and social justice, Batten's Terrell Jana and fellow teammates and coaches knew they had to do something to fight for change. Read on ESPN.com
Oct 29, 2020 Leblang's "Pandemics Beyond the Headlines" Among Signature J-Term Courses Education Racial Justice and Equity Democracy This year, UVA's J-Term offerings feature interdisciplinary courses addressing some of today’s most urgent issues and team-taught by great professors across Grounds, including Batten's David Leblang. READ IN UVA TODAY
Oct 22, 2020 Faculty Spotlight: From College Drop-Out to Action-Minded, Award-Winning Professor Leadership Advocacy Racial Justice and Equity Batten's Paul Martin teaches a course aimed at improving experiences for first-generation students at UVA, while also participating in a wide range of activities for the betterment of the Charlottesville community. READ IN UVA TODAY
Oct 09, 2020 Batten Students Play Role in Retold, Celebrating Women at UVA Leadership Racial Justice and Equity As part of Retold, a University-wide effort to celebrate the women of UVA, Batten students Alyssa Candelmo, Karishma Srikanth, Martha Gallagher, and Jocelyn Willougby are sharing their stories. READ IN UVA TODAY
Oct 02, 2020 A Hoo Without a Name – Just the Way this Batten Student Wants It Leadership Racial Justice and Equity A trip to the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers over the summer inspired Batten's Terrell Jana, the football team’s top receiver, to pay homage in an unexpected way. READ IN UVA TODAY
Sep 23, 2020 How Can Private Capital Best Serve the Public Good? Social Entrepreneurship Social Equity Racial Justice and Equity When we think about the organizations making a positive change in the world, nonprofits usually come to mind. But in the latest installment of Expert Chats, Batten's Christine Mahoney argued that if we consider the private sector as well, we can address today’s global problems much more creatively. Learn more
Sep 11, 2020 Holbein: U.S. school principals discriminate against Muslims and atheists, our study finds Social Equity Racial Justice and Equity According to a large‐scale correspondence study conducted by Batten's John Holbein and colleagues, anti-Muslim bias still operates widely nineteen years after the 9/11 attacks. Read in The Washington Post
Sep 04, 2020 More Than a Backdrop Leadership Racial Justice and Equity Marlena Becker (BA ’21) shares how she helped redesign Batten Builds to start better addressing the needs of the Charlottesville community. Learn more
Aug 26, 2020 Learning from Tragedy Racial Justice and Equity Leadership In 2017, a group of UVA deans and other members of the University community offered recommendations in the wake of the Unite the Right rally. Three years later, Risa Goluboff, dean of the law school, spoke with Dean Ian Solomon about what the group learned and how our nation has evolved. Learn more
Aug 20, 2020 Remembering August 11th and 12th Racial Justice and Equity Last week, on the third anniversary of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, three witnesses spoke on a panel moderated by Batten’s dean, Ian Solomon. Now famous around the world, the rally spanned two days and brought white supremacists and counter-protestors together in a violent clash that killed one demonstrator and injured many others. Learn more
Aug 17, 2020 August in Charlottesville: Excavating Memory, Truth, and Hope Racial Justice and Equity This week marked the third anniversary of the murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, VA. Ms. Heyer was a young woman peacefully demonstrating against crowds of white supremacists who had come to this college town with firearms and Nazi slogans to intimidate people, incite violence and, according to some participants, foment a race war. Read in Medium
Aug 11, 2020 Racial Equity Task Force Releases Report, 12 Key Recommendations For Action Advocacy Leadership Racial Justice and Equity The University of Virginia’s Racial Equity Task Force today released its report, titled “Audacious Future: Commitment Required,” outlining 12 key initiatives to improve racial equity at UVA. READ IN UVA TODAY
Jul 27, 2020 Making a Meaningful Commitment to Diversity Education Racial Justice and Equity Many institutions of higher education are looking to become more inclusive. But what’s the most effective way to do that—at the University of Virginia and elsewhere? Dana Laurens and Michael Dannenberg weigh in. Learn more
Jul 20, 2020 From the Archives: Batten Awards John Lewis 2015 Medal in Citizenship Leadership Crime and Justice Democracy Racial Justice and Equity “Congressman Lewis exemplifies citizen leadership,” said Allan Stam, former dean of the Batten School. “From his days as a student leader to his co-founding of SNCC to his long career as an elected official, he has selflessly served the public good." Read in Monticello News
Jul 14, 2020 Racial Equity Task Force Discusses Steps Forward, Learning From Past Recommendations Education Leadership Racial Justice and Equity The public session of the University’s Racial Equity Task Force featuring Dean Solomon occurred virtually Friday, over one month after a group of Black student activists and the Black Student Alliance sent separate list of demands to the task force. Read in Cavalier Daily
Jul 02, 2020 How Can We End This Enduring Legacy? Political Science Democracy Racial Justice and Equity In the wake of past injustices, truth commissions offer divided communities the chance to reach a common understanding of their history. For his Applied Policy Project (APP) at Batten, George Rudebusch (MPP ’20, Law ’20) studied eight historical truth commissions from across the nation. Learn more
Jun 30, 2020 Black Americans are Systematically Under-Treated for Pain. Why? Healthcare Racial Justice and Equity When it comes to the healthcare you receive, the color of your skin can make a significant difference, social psychologist Sophie Trawalter told an online audience last week. Learn more
Jun 26, 2020 Committing to Advocacy Advocacy Racial Justice and Equity We all want to change the world, but where do we start? Irma Palmer (BA '10, MPP ‘15) offers some tips and tricks. Learn more
Jun 25, 2020 Where Do We Go From Here? Leadership Crime and Justice Racial Justice and Equity “We’re at the intersection of past and present—and we're teetering a bit,” Batten professor Brian N. Williams told an online audience last week. “Evolution or revolution? Reform or riot? Progress or more protests? Should we defund and divest or deconstruct and reconstruct?” Learn more
Nov 12 Democracy in Danger Podcast Series Live Broadcast: "Aftermath: Democracy in the Wake of 2020" NOV 12, 2020 2:00 PM Online via Zoom Join Siva and Will for a live recording of Democracy in Danger, a new podcast from UVA's Deliberative Media Lab. Learn more
Oct 15 OAAA-Batten Interest Session OCT 15, 2020 6:00 PM Online via Zoom Join the Batten School Admissions team and current students from the Batten Ambassadors and Black Student Leaders in Policy to learn more about Batten’s major, minor, and Accelerated MPP! Learn more
Oct 14 A Conversation With Jennifer McClellan ’97 on Race, Equity and Policymaking OCT 14, 2020 5:00 PM Online via Zoom Virginia Sen. Jennifer McClellan ’97 will offer a glimpse into the real-world and challenging task of policymaking to address racial inequities. McClellan, who has served in the Virginia General Assembly since 2006, is a Democratic gubernatorial candidate for the 2021 election. If elected, she will be the first woman to serve as governor of Virginia, and the first Black female governor in the nation. Learn more
Oct 09 "Out in National Security" Career Panel OCT 9, 2020 11:00 AM Online via Zoom Join LGBTQIA+ veterans of the US Military, Departments of State and Defense, and The White House for this career panel focused on discussing what it's like to be "out" in the national security field. Learn more
Oct 07 Socially Responsible Investing for UVA Employees OCT 7, 2020 4:00 PM Online via Zoom Systemic challenges -- like racism, sexism, climate change, and more -- require systemic solutions. This webinar aims to serve as a “how-to” that will help interested employees overcome barriers from not understanding their UVA benefits to feeling uncertain about how to pick the right mix of investment options. Learn more
Oct 05 Virtual Batten Hour: Joshua Block OCT 5, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Please join us for a conversation with Joshua Block, staff attorney with the National ACLU's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & HIV Projects. Learn more
Sep 21 Virtual Batten Hour: Civil Rights, Religious Freedom, and the Politics of Social Change with Anurima Bhargava, Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Join us for a conversation between Anurima Bhargava, Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Ian Solomon, dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Learn more
Sep 14 Batten Hour: Scott Skinner-Thompson SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Please join us for Batten Hour, featuring Scott Skinner-Thompson. In his book Privacy at the Margins, Skinner-Thompson highlights why privacy is of acute importance for marginalized groups. He will speak to how examining limited privacy can enrich and enhance our lives at the margins in material ways and more. Learn more
Sep 02 Batten Expert Chats: "Impact Investing - The Role of Private Capital in Achieving the Public Good" SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Whether we are discussing affordable housing, access to healthcare, racial equity, gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, forced displacement, or climate change, current and aspiring policymakers should see the private sector as a key partner, Batten professor Christine Mahoney argues. For the next installment of Batten Expert Chats, Mahoney will speak and take questions on how investments can act as an engine for positive social impact. Learn more
Aug 31 Virtual Batten Hour with Dean Ian Solomon AUGUST 31, 2020 12:00 PM Watch Here Join us for the first Batten Hour of the year featuring a discussion with Dean Ian Solomon and student community members. More details to come. Join the conversation via Zoom. Learn more