News

Migrants moving north in Honduras. (Brookings)
Apr 02, 2021

Climate, Violence, and Honduran Migration to the United States

Migration from Honduras to the U.S. has been growing for years. New research by Batten's David Leblang, director of the Global Policy Center, and Duke University's Sarah Bermeo suggests the movement is a result of persistent violence coupled with food insecurity linked to climate change. Leblang and Bermeo wrote about their findings in a blog for Brookings. 

The Virginia State Capitol
Jan 05, 2021

Op-ed: Time to end Virginia's death penalty

During this month's legislative session, Virginia could completely abolish the death penalty. In an op-ed for The Roanoke Times, Batten students Sean Bielawski (MPP '21) and Henry Frost (MBA/MPP '21) outline why the Commonwealth should set an example for the South by officially doing away with capital punishment. 

Evelyn Immonen
Aug 15, 2019

Alum Spotlight: Evelyn Immonen

Working on issues related to rural poverty may not be as glamorous as other high-profile policy issues, but for Evelyn Immonen (MPP ’18), the margin of good that can be done in just one small town is worth the effort and commitment

The Batten Family
Jul 16, 2019

Leaps and Bounds

"Beginning with their extraordinary gift to establish the Batten School in 2007, the Batten family continues to shape the face of leadership education for the 21st century," said Ian Solomon, Batten School dean-elect.

PrezFest
May 31, 2019

21st Century Challenges: Climate, Immigration, and Terror

Last week, the Miller Center and UVA’s Democracy Initiative kicked off the Presidential Ideas Festival (PrezFest), a three-day festival examining the state of democracy through the lens of the presidency. As part of PrezFest, Batten professor David Leblang moderated a discussion examining the role of the president in relation to 21st century challenges of climate, migration, and national security. The panelists included Rosa Brooks, Georgetown professor of law; Deborah Lawrence, UVA professor of environmental sciences; and Todd Sechser, Batten professor of politics and public policy and UVA professor of politics.

Garrett Hall at Sunset

Stay Up To Date with the Latest Batten News and Events