News

Alec Scicchitano
Feb 27, 2025

Alec Scicchitano: Working a Transatlantic Gig

After a stint as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House of Reprsenatives, Alec Scicchitano (BA ’21) recently started a new job as the head of politics, press, and public affairs at the British Consulate General in Boston, where he works to strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and United States across New England. 

Ben Converse
Feb 20, 2025

Finding a Seat at the Interdisciplinary Research Table

UVA Batten hosted the “Annual Behavioral Science Across Grounds Conference” earlier this month, bringing some of the brightest minds of UVA’s research community to Garrett Hall to exchange ideas, interests, and insights. Associate professor Ben Converse gave the keynote. 

Deborah Stroman at UVA Batten Hour
Feb 18, 2025

Stroman’s Batten Hour a Slam Dunk for Students

At this week's Batten Hour, professor, entrepreneur, and former star athlete Deborah Stroman unpacked the history and policy implications of the "seismic shifts" in college athletics in recent years, including Name, Image, and Likeness rights and the NCAA transfer portal. 

Jimmy Flood
Feb 14, 2025

Pivoting in a Tough Job Market

The path to a new job for new graduates and alumni comes with twists and turns, and plenty of stress. A key skill that we impart here at UVA Batten is the ability to remain flexible and open to unexpected opportunity, pivoting as needed. Meet Jimmy Flood (BA ’23), who has successfully shifted his plans. 

Ben Castleman
Feb 13, 2025

Castleman Receives Prestigious Research Award

Congratulations to UVA Batten associate professor Benjamin Castleman who has received the 2024 University Public Impact Focused Research Award for his outstanding scholarship and public service to improve college success and job opportunities for America’s lower-income populations.

Anne-Marie Slaughter
Feb 04, 2025

The “Personal-as-Political” Shapes a Global Leader

In her conversation with Dean Ian Solomon at this week's Batten Hour, lawyer, scholar and global leader Anne-Marie Slaughter reflected on how the country can move forward from this moment of extreme political polarization and economic and environmental uncertainty across the globe.

christine mahoney
Jan 17, 2025

UVA Batten Leads Major Appalachian Initiative Through a $20 Million Federal Grant

UVA Batten, under the guidance of Chief Innovation Officer Christine Mahoney, will facilitate a broad range of economic development and environmental resilience projects in Appalachia through a recently announced federal grant for almost $20 million. The funding will bolster the ongoing work of local governments, universities and non-profits on initiatives including childcare centers, healthy housing, community centers, telehealth hubs, river stewardship and more in multiple localities in Southwest Virginia.

Michael Shonrock
Jan 14, 2025

Batten Hour: The Work of Federal Leaders

Batten students and staff joined the director of the Federal Executive Institute, Michael Shonrock, on Monday for the first Batten Hour to kick-off the Spring semester. A key takeaway he shared was that a chief trait of values-based leaders is that they are nice to others. 

Grace Makin MPP '25
Jan 10, 2025

Batten Student Highlight: Grace Makin (MPP '25)

Meet Grace Makin, MPP ‘25 and community engagement chair of the Batten Graduate Council. She leads efforts to plan monthly service opportunities for all Batten students with local organizations, including last semester's projects with Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club. 

Kiara Rogers
Dec 06, 2024

Alumni in Action: Kiara Rogers

Meet Kiara Rogers, BA '19, who was among the first full graduating class of UVA’s Blue Ridge Scholars. After receiving a degree from Columbia Law School, she’s now an associate at Williams & Connolly in New York City. She was recently featured in the StoryBooth video series by UVA’s Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

Garrett Hall at Sunset

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