About News News Subscribe International and Global Affairs Humanitarian Policy Education International Development Global Politics & International Relations Health Policy Immigration Migration Advocacy Democracy Political Science Facet Area of Focus - News Kirsten Gelsdorf Abigail Scholer Brooke Ray Ian H. Solomon (-) Lucy Bassett (-) David Leblang Facet People - News (-) UVA Humanitarian Collaborative Facet UVA Partner - News Research and Commentary Racial Justice and Equity Alum in Action Facet News Type - News May 14, 2025 UVA Batten Students Team Up with Alumnus at the World Bank Two UVA Batten MPP students who are graduating this week had the opportunity to collaborate with alumnus Cameron Haddad (MPP '19) this semester on a project for the World Bank, providing them hands-on experience in policy work. As a student, Haddad worked on a World Bank project with professor Lucy Bassett, who connected the three in February. Learn more Jul 13, 2022 A Global Approach to Improving Outcomes for Teen Mothers and Their Babies Humanitarian Policy Batten professor Lucy Bassett brought researchers from around the world together to tackle an issue that spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the UVA Humanitarian Collaborative, Bassett organized a workshop focused on how more support can be brought to adolescent mothers and young children. Learn more Jul 05, 2022 Enhancing educators’ skills for quality preprimary education in Bangladesh Education Humanitarian Policy In a study for World Bank, Batten's Lucy Bassett and co-author share findings about teacher preparedness in Bangladesh's pre-primary education programs. Learn more May 24, 2022 Childcare is a critical need for women refugees. It must be made a priority International and Global Affairs Humanitarian Policy Learn more May 17, 2022 Childcare: An overlooked response to emergencies Global Politics & International Relations International Development Providing childcare in humanitarian emergencies is a win-win strategy for women and children. It’s time to make it a reality for more families. Learn more Apr 05, 2022 Rural poverty, climate change, and family migration from Guatemala International and Global Affairs Global Politics & International Relations International Development David Leblang, Director of the Batten School’s Global Policy Center, along with co-authors, assesses the root causes of migration from Guatemala. Learn more Aug 27, 2021 Leblang: How resettling Afghan refugees might help Afghanistan’s future Humanitarian Policy International and Global Affairs In an article for The Washington Post, Batten's David Leblang and co-author Margaret Peters explain how migrants help their home countries by building trade ties and by sending back both cash and political knowledge. Read in The Washington Post Jun 25, 2021 'Deal with the root causes': Harris visits U.S.-Mexico border after months of pressure on immigration Migration Humanitarian Policy In advance of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Batten professor Lucy Bassett spoke with USA Today about the significance of the trip, and the complexity of the root causes contributing to record numbers of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. READ IN USA TODAY Apr 02, 2021 Climate, Violence, and Honduran Migration to the United States Migration International and Global Affairs 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. Read in Brookings Feb 23, 2021 Here's Who Biden Might Pick for OMB Director as Neera Tanden's Confirmation Looks Unlikely Political Science The Biden administration is heading back to square one as the chances for a Neera Tanden confirmation, the president's initial pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget, seems increasingly unlikely to gain enough Senate votes. Batten’s David Leblang spoke to Newsweek about potential candidates under consideration to take Tanden's place. READ IN NEWSWEEK Dec 02, 2020 Our Immigration Policy Has Done Terrible Damage to Kids Immigration Advocacy In an op-ed for Scientific American, Batten's Lucy Bassett and co-author Hirokazu Yoshikawa outline immediate steps the Biden-Harris administration should take to begin addressing the trauma inflicted upon children through inhumane immigration policies. Read In Scientific American Nov 09, 2020 The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Refugee Policy Education Immigration In honor of Global Week at UVA, Batten professor and policy expert David Leblang and Anne Richard, who served as assistant secretary of state for population, migration, and refugees under President Obama, discussed the dramatic shift in our country's stance on people seeking asylum in the U.S. Learn more Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Next page Next › Stay Up To Date with the Latest Batten News and Events Subscribe
May 14, 2025 UVA Batten Students Team Up with Alumnus at the World Bank Two UVA Batten MPP students who are graduating this week had the opportunity to collaborate with alumnus Cameron Haddad (MPP '19) this semester on a project for the World Bank, providing them hands-on experience in policy work. As a student, Haddad worked on a World Bank project with professor Lucy Bassett, who connected the three in February. Learn more
Jul 13, 2022 A Global Approach to Improving Outcomes for Teen Mothers and Their Babies Humanitarian Policy Batten professor Lucy Bassett brought researchers from around the world together to tackle an issue that spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the UVA Humanitarian Collaborative, Bassett organized a workshop focused on how more support can be brought to adolescent mothers and young children. Learn more
Jul 05, 2022 Enhancing educators’ skills for quality preprimary education in Bangladesh Education Humanitarian Policy In a study for World Bank, Batten's Lucy Bassett and co-author share findings about teacher preparedness in Bangladesh's pre-primary education programs. Learn more
May 24, 2022 Childcare is a critical need for women refugees. It must be made a priority International and Global Affairs Humanitarian Policy Learn more
May 17, 2022 Childcare: An overlooked response to emergencies Global Politics & International Relations International Development Providing childcare in humanitarian emergencies is a win-win strategy for women and children. It’s time to make it a reality for more families. Learn more
Apr 05, 2022 Rural poverty, climate change, and family migration from Guatemala International and Global Affairs Global Politics & International Relations International Development David Leblang, Director of the Batten School’s Global Policy Center, along with co-authors, assesses the root causes of migration from Guatemala. Learn more
Aug 27, 2021 Leblang: How resettling Afghan refugees might help Afghanistan’s future Humanitarian Policy International and Global Affairs In an article for The Washington Post, Batten's David Leblang and co-author Margaret Peters explain how migrants help their home countries by building trade ties and by sending back both cash and political knowledge. Read in The Washington Post
Jun 25, 2021 'Deal with the root causes': Harris visits U.S.-Mexico border after months of pressure on immigration Migration Humanitarian Policy In advance of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Batten professor Lucy Bassett spoke with USA Today about the significance of the trip, and the complexity of the root causes contributing to record numbers of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. READ IN USA TODAY
Apr 02, 2021 Climate, Violence, and Honduran Migration to the United States Migration International and Global Affairs 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. Read in Brookings
Feb 23, 2021 Here's Who Biden Might Pick for OMB Director as Neera Tanden's Confirmation Looks Unlikely Political Science The Biden administration is heading back to square one as the chances for a Neera Tanden confirmation, the president's initial pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget, seems increasingly unlikely to gain enough Senate votes. Batten’s David Leblang spoke to Newsweek about potential candidates under consideration to take Tanden's place. READ IN NEWSWEEK
Dec 02, 2020 Our Immigration Policy Has Done Terrible Damage to Kids Immigration Advocacy In an op-ed for Scientific American, Batten's Lucy Bassett and co-author Hirokazu Yoshikawa outline immediate steps the Biden-Harris administration should take to begin addressing the trauma inflicted upon children through inhumane immigration policies. Read In Scientific American
Nov 09, 2020 The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Refugee Policy Education Immigration In honor of Global Week at UVA, Batten professor and policy expert David Leblang and Anne Richard, who served as assistant secretary of state for population, migration, and refugees under President Obama, discussed the dramatic shift in our country's stance on people seeking asylum in the U.S. Learn more