Becoming Batten
Stay up-to-date with the latest news about how to apply to UVA Batten programs, what it’s like to be an enrolled student, and what alumni careers look like post-graduation.
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Four Courses to Know for Fall 2026The pollen has fallen, temperatures have risen, and the last thing you may be thinking about is classes for next fall. However, following on the heels of “What Classes Should I Take Next?”, you can read more below about four courses we’re offering this fall that highlight the range of Batten’s undergraduate and graduate offerings!
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Alum Spotlight: Karly Ball Isaacson (MPP ‘21)Graduates from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia enter public service equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. While many go on to public service careers, working in local, state, federal, or even international policy areas, other UVA Batten graduates go on to work in academia. The Batten Admissions team asked one of our amazing alumni, Karly Ball Isaacson (MPP ‘21), to tell us more about her experience at UVA Batten and what she’s done since graduation.
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Alum Spotlight: Madison Roberts (Accelerated MPP ‘20)Graduates from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia enter public service equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. While many go on to public service careers, working in local, state, federal, or even international policy areas, other UVA Batten graduates go on to work in the private sector, including the legal field. We asked one of our amazing private sector alums, Madison Roberts (Accelerated MPP ‘20), to tell us more about her experience at UVA Batten and what she’s done since graduation.
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Alum Spotlight: Jacklyn Chen (BA ‘21)Batten graduates enter public service equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. Career pathways often include federal, state, and local government leadership, consulting and strategy, private sector and research, and nonprofit roles. We asked one of our amazing alumni, Jacklyn Chen (BA ‘21) to learn more about what she has done after graduation.
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Alum Spotlight: Michael Pugh (MPP ’22)Graduates from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia enter the work force equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. Career pathways often include federal, state, and local government leadership; consulting and strategy; private sector and research; and nonprofit roles. We sat down with one of our amazing alumni, Michael Pugh (MPP '22) to learn more about his time after UVA Batten!
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Alum Spotlight: Sebastian Singh (Accelerated MPP ‘24)UVA Batten graduates enter a variety of sectors and fields after graduation. While many go on to public service careers, working in local, state, federal, or even international policy areas, other Batten graduates go on to work in the private sector, including finance. We asked one of our amazing private sector alumni, Sebastian Singh (Accelerated MPP ‘24) about his time after Batten!
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Alum Spotlight: Olivia Nguyen-Dillon (BA ‘23)UVA Batten graduates enter a variety of sectors and fields after graduation equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. While many go on to public service careers, working in local, state, federal, or even international policy areas, other Batten graduates go on to work in the private sector, including consulting. The Batten Admissions team sat down with one of our amazing private sector alums, Olivia Nguyen-Dillon (BA ‘23) to learn more about her time after Batten!
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Alum Spotlight: Morgan Smith (MPP ’21)UVA Batten graduates enter public service equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. Career pathways often include federal, state, and local government leadership, consulting and strategy, private sector and research, and nonprofit roles. The Batten Admissions team recently sat down with one of our amazing alums, Morgan Smith (MPP ‘21) to learn more about what she has done after graduating from UVA Batten.
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Alum Spotlight: Ramya Ravichandran (Accelerated MPP ’19)Batten graduates enter the work force equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. Career pathways often include federal, state, and local government leadership; consulting and strategy; private sector and research; and nonprofit roles. We asked one of our amazing alumni, Ramya Ravichandran (Accelerated MPP ‘19) to learn more about her time in the private sector after graduation!
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What Classes Should I Take Next?With shopping carts open and Fall 2026 course enrollment quickly approaching, the Admissions team is sharing helpful tips and classes to consider as you prepare for application to the Batten School.
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Alum Spotlight: Adeline Sandridge (BA ‘19)Batten graduates enter public service equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. Career pathways often include federal, state, and local government leadership, consulting and strategy, private sector and research, and nonprofit roles. We asked one of our amazing alumni, Adeline Sandridge (BA ‘19) to learn more about what she has done after graduation.
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Alum Spotlight: Drew Washington (MPP ’24)Batten graduates enter public service and do amazing work across a variety of government, nonprofit, and other service sectors equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. While some go to Washington D.C., others choose to work closer to home and to their local communities. The Batten Admissions team sat down with one of our amazing alums, Drew Washington (MPP ‘24) to learn more about what he has done after graduation.

