Each year, the Batten Admissions team recruits Batten Ambassadors to help share the student experience to prospective Batten Ambassadors. This year, we have four undergraduate Lead Ambassadors who are current Batten BA third and fourth year students in the Bachelor of Arts program who will be at many of our Admissions events this year. Each of them bring a unique perspective on life at Batten, and you will see them at many of the Batten admissions events throughout the year. Read on to learn more about our Lead Ambassadors!

Meet the Lead Ambassadors

Name: Ellie Stombres

Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia

Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): B.A. Public Policy and Leadership, B.A. German Language and Literature

Contact Information/Email: ejs7dy@virginia.edu

Why I Chose the Batten BA: I chose the Batten BA because I loved the practical nature of the classes. I wanted tangible skills I could use to solve problems in the future, so I leaned into Batten’s  combination of passion and practicality.

Favorite Batten project or class: LPPP 3230 Challenges of the 21st Century

Fun Fact About Me: I love to craft!

Name: Zade Haddad

Hometown: Oakton, Virginia

Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): B.A. Public Policy and Leadership, B.A. Economics

Contact Information/Email: zth3xca@virginia.edu

Why I Chose the Batten BA: I chose the Batten BA because I believed it was the best opportunity for me to pursue my passion of making real change in our world and acquire the skills to be an effective leader in doing so. 

Favorite Batten project or class: LPPP 3250 Global Development Policy

Fun Fact About Me: I am Palestinian, and am fluent in Arabic.

Name: R.J. Rhodes

Hometown: Dinwiddie County, VA

Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): B.A. Leadership & Public Policy; Minor in History

Contact Information/Email: rcr6whw@virginia.edu

Why I Chose the Batten BA: I chose Batten because whatever career path I ultimately choose, I want to know that the work I am doing is helping communities around me. I felt that Batten could give me the best “toolbox” to foster positive impacts on the lives of those I encounter through my work and in life. 

Favorite Batten project or class: LPPP 4200 Institutions & Political Context of Public Policy/LPPS Terrorism & Counterterrorism 

Fun Fact About Me: I love to play cornhole!

Name: Olivia Nguyen-Dillon

Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA

Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s): Leadership and Public Policy B.A. & Global Development Studies B.A.

Contact Information/Email: okn2vn@virginia.edu

Why I Chose the Batten BA: I chose Batten because of the faculty and sense of community I found in taking Batten classes. There was a level of support across all faculty I encountered that gave me the confidence to apply. I was not really passionate about anything coming in college. I found my passion in Batten and an area of study that I want to learn more about. 

Favorite Batten project or class: LPPL 3100 Foundations of Behavioral Science & LPPP 3255 Comparative Policy History

Fun Fact About Me: I hold dual citizenship with the Republic of Ireland and the U.S. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Lead Ambassadors or drop by our Friday Open Office Hours in October to ask them questions!