The Batten School is proud to announce the graduation this year of 119 Bachelor of Arts students and 75 Master of Public Policy students. 

On Saturday, May 17, Batten dean Ian H. Solomon welcomed the graduates, their family members, and friends at two ceremonies, one for each program, at the historic Paramount Theater in downtown Charlottesville. 

“I applaud you, class of 2025, as a force for good in the world. May you always stand up for each other and have each other’s backs. May you invest in each other’s successes and resilience in the face of challenges,” Solomon said. 

“Whether you agree with each other or not, may you always give each other the benefit of the doubt and a presumption of good faith,” he added, echoing the Batten School’s mission of training leaders to bridge divides in order to solve the world’s most pressing problems. 

He charged the graduates to take their learning “into communities, into organizations and institutions, into the messy, unpredictable, high-stakes, and sometimes even dangerous world of public service. And yes, it’s a challenging time to do so. But these times — these turbulent, complex, polarized times — are exactly what you’ve been preparing for. And you are prepared.” 

Jacob Rizzio, BA ’25, was selected as the graduation speaker for his class. In his remarks, Rizzio said that although he was initially uneasy about the idea of being the speaker, several personal and collective changes this semester gave him the impetus he needed. “Change calls us to step up, even when we’d rather not,” he told his fellow alumni.  

“How we respond, that’s where leadership lives. You all reminded me of that and continually inspire me … in our class discussions, especially the uncomfortable ones, in our group projects, even the chaotic ones, and in our day-to-day conversations. Our shared passion for policy connects us, but our leadership — the way we’ve supported each other through uncertainty, the way we’ve shown up for one another — is what has truly bonded us.” 

Anna Thomas, MPP ’25, was the graduation speaker for the master’s degree ceremony. She had started the program without having a strong quantitative background, she said, and was uncertain about how she would do. But a particularly tricky question on an early exam got her thinking about the need to challenge her own assumptions. 

“I think this is, at its core, what Batten has been trying to teach us. How many times do I have to remind myself to not assume anything about the people around me?” she said. “I’ve learned from our Batten curriculum, professors, and my classmates — even in the toughest conversations, you have taught me how to think.

“I am so grateful for the Batten family for pushing me to be better —  and inspiring me to continue to better myself."

In addition to the 194 new alumni, 11 people completed the Batten School’s Graduate Certificate in Public Leadership, and three completed the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy during the 2024-25 academic year.

Congratulations to all!

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