Batten Board Directory Batten Board Directory A B C D E F G H L M N O (-) P R S V Y Facet Last Name - Board Facet Area of Focus - Board Facet UVA Partner - Board Facet Batten Department - Board Katherine Pajewski Secretary, Alumni Advisory Board and Healthcare Analyst for Huron Consulting Group In her professional life, Katie is a Care Transformation Associate at Huron Consulting Group, playing a pivotal role in reshaping healthcare systems for improved efficiency and patient outcomes. She has implemented transformative care models, developing solutions alongside clients and training clinicians on new health technologies and care models to increase hospital capacity and achieve organizational goals. In her previous role as a Policy Analyst with Federal Health Policy Solutions and Lincoln Policy Group, Katie worked on a variety of healthcare policies, navigating federal regulations and legislation. She assessed policy needs, risks, and opportunities to inform long-term planning for clients across the healthcare sector. Katie has been a member of the Batten Alumni Advisory Board since Fall 2020, acting as Chair since Spring 2023, shaping the alumni initiatives and fostering a community dedicated to impact in the leadership and public policy arenas, and beyond. Read full bio Irma Palmer Irma Palmer has more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of policy, politics and communications. Most recently, she was then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris’s speechwriter, and previously her roles included Director of Constituent Services and Traveling Press Secretary for then-Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe. Read full bio Susan K. Payne President and Owner of Blue Ridge Group Susan K. Payne is President and Owner of Blue Ridge Group, a marketing firm located in Charlottesville. Prior to 2017, she was the President of Payne, Ross & Associates Advertising, Inc. Read full bio Catalina Perez Catalina Perez has been an active member of the Batten community for the past 3 years. Originally part of the Class of 2020 Bachelor's of Public Policy, she decided to make the switch to the Master's of Public Policy Class of 2021 program party because of her great interest in public policy but also because of her love of the Batten School. Former Women in Policy President and Batten Pillar Project founder, she pursues her future career in Law as a W&L law student, she still hopes to give back to the Batten school through BAAB in serving current Batten students and alumni. Read full bio
Katherine Pajewski Secretary, Alumni Advisory Board and Healthcare Analyst for Huron Consulting Group In her professional life, Katie is a Care Transformation Associate at Huron Consulting Group, playing a pivotal role in reshaping healthcare systems for improved efficiency and patient outcomes. She has implemented transformative care models, developing solutions alongside clients and training clinicians on new health technologies and care models to increase hospital capacity and achieve organizational goals. In her previous role as a Policy Analyst with Federal Health Policy Solutions and Lincoln Policy Group, Katie worked on a variety of healthcare policies, navigating federal regulations and legislation. She assessed policy needs, risks, and opportunities to inform long-term planning for clients across the healthcare sector. Katie has been a member of the Batten Alumni Advisory Board since Fall 2020, acting as Chair since Spring 2023, shaping the alumni initiatives and fostering a community dedicated to impact in the leadership and public policy arenas, and beyond. Read full bio
Irma Palmer Irma Palmer has more than a decade of experience working at the intersection of policy, politics and communications. Most recently, she was then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris’s speechwriter, and previously her roles included Director of Constituent Services and Traveling Press Secretary for then-Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe. Read full bio
Susan K. Payne President and Owner of Blue Ridge Group Susan K. Payne is President and Owner of Blue Ridge Group, a marketing firm located in Charlottesville. Prior to 2017, she was the President of Payne, Ross & Associates Advertising, Inc. Read full bio
Catalina Perez Catalina Perez has been an active member of the Batten community for the past 3 years. Originally part of the Class of 2020 Bachelor's of Public Policy, she decided to make the switch to the Master's of Public Policy Class of 2021 program party because of her great interest in public policy but also because of her love of the Batten School. Former Women in Policy President and Batten Pillar Project founder, she pursues her future career in Law as a W&L law student, she still hopes to give back to the Batten school through BAAB in serving current Batten students and alumni. Read full bio