Jeff Chidester is the Executive Director of External Affairs, where he oversees admissions, strategic partnerships, and the broader external affairs portfolio. He is the main admissions contact for the postgraduate Master of Public Policy, five graduate dual degree programs, and two graduate certificates. From 2003 to 2016, he held various posts at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, most recently as Director of Policy. He received a B.A. in Political Science from Grove City College (Pa.), an M.A. in International History from the London School of Economics, an M.A. in Politics from the University of Virginia, and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He is currently completing his Ed.D. in Higher Ed Leadership from UVA.  

Anne Carter Mulligan joined Batten in January 2019 and serves as the Senior Director of Admissions.  She is the main admissions contact for the Bachelor of Arts of Public Policy and Leadership and the Accelerated Master of Public Policy programs, but she is happy to talk about our two minor programs as well. She administers the Bridge to Batten program for students from first generation and limited income backgrounds, and has a particular interest in supporting transfer from the community college into UVA and Batten. She is a recipient of the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contribution Award, the highest honor staff receive for their dedicated service to the University. Born and raised in Blacksburg, Virginia, with a B.A. in English from Virginia Tech and M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from UVA, Anne has equal affinity for each alma mater… except during football season. 

Estrella Burks-Parra is the Admissions Coordinator handling many admission operations at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including planning recruitment events and prospective student visits. She is the main admissions contact for the Public Policy and Leadership Minor and Social Entrepreneurship Minor but is happy to talk about any of Batten's programs. Born and raised in Southern California, Estrella is a graduate of Washington and Lee University where she majored in politics and theatre, with a law, justice and society minor. She is currently completing her M.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Alabama.

Emily Edwards serves as the Admissions Fellow. Originally from Georgia, Emily is a 2024 graduate from Furman University. While at Furman, Emily double majored in Psychology and Anthropology. She graduated with honors after being inducted into Furman's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Emily worked as an admissions ambassador for Furman for over two years to recruit and share information with prospective students. She plans to pursue Organizational psychology in the realm of higher education. 

Visiting Batten 

One of the best ways to experience our programs and community is to visit the Batten School. Below are different resources for you to visit our school, including several ways to connect with our office virtually.  

If you are a current UVA student, you can experience Batten even before you apply! Throughout the fall, we host many different admissions events and information sessions, including a Chattin’ with Batten meet and greet on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, as well as regular program information sessions throughout the Fall. If you have a quick question, you are welcome to drop by our weekly Friday Open Office Hours in Garrett Hall room 203 from 2:00-4:00 PM beginning 9/6 to chat with a Batten Ambassador. If you seek a more individualized or in-depth conversation, we encourage you to make a virtual appointment with Anne or Estrella. 

Another great way to see if Batten is a good fit is to take a Batten class before applying! Along with social psychology and microeconomics, students interested in our Bachelor of Arts program must take LPPP 2200: Introduction to Public Policy as a prerequisite, which is a great way to learn about our approach to the policy-making process. If you are considering the Social Entrepreneurship minor, consider LPPS 3050: Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship or ENTP 1010: Start-Up (both are required courses). If you are looking at either the BA or Minor in Public Policy and Leadership, you could take LPPL 2600: Foundations of Behavioral Science to fulfill the social psychology prerequisite, or any number of open electives or special topics courses exploring specific policy issues or areas.  

If you are interested in our traditional two-year Master of Public Policy program, there are several ways to connect with our team. First, Jeff offers daily virtually appointments (all in Eastern Time); if you cannot find a time that works for you, please email him at jchidester@virginia.edu to set up an appointment that works with your schedule. Second, we offer a number of events throughout the year (both virtual and in-person) as a school and an admissions office. We encourage you to attend any and all events that are of interest to you, including events led by our faculty! Please mark your calendars for our annual Fall MPP Open House on October 19 (registration link to be distributed shortly!). Can’t make the Open House but still want to spend a day in the life of a Batten student? You can email Estrella Burks-Parra (scg5zk@virginia.edu) to set up a personalized weekday visit of Batten, including sitting in on a class! Additionally, we will be on the road this fall, so keep an eye out on your email for an announcement of when we may be near your hometown! 

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at BattenAdmissions@virginia.edu or review our FAQs. And, if you do not currently receive our emails, be sure to fill out a quick interest form to begin receiving regular emails from our team.