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It is estimated that only 2% of people around the world have access to mental health and psychosocial support, or MHPSS. The question is, will COVID-19 offer us a chance to change this? Batten’s Kirsten Gelsdorf and Lucy Bassett provide critical insights into the barriers to progress in MHPSS interventions, and identify opportunities to prioritize and invest in new programs going forward.

Batten's Dr. Michael Williams acknowledges that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam is under pressure to reopen, but says the state isn’t ready yet. "To be able to do it safely, I think additional things need to be in place that are not necessarily in place for all members of our society."

In the most recent Batten Expert Chat, Jameson Norton, CEO of the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Outpatient Clinics, explains that the building blocks of strong leadership include teamwork, resilience, commitment, and communication.

Committed to serving communities in crisis, LeAnn Golding (MPP ’20) prepares for her next step with the American Red Cross.

Local leaders like Batten's Brooke Ray say the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a sharp increase in unemployment claims across the commonwealth and the country, is exacerbating existing problems like food insecurity, especially where systemic issues already existed.

The U.S. already has some of the lowest youth voting rates in the world, as illustrated in Batten professor John Holbein's recent co-authored book, “Making Young Voters: Converting Civic Attitudes Into Civic Action.” In the latest Batten Expert Chat, Holbein discussed the potential impacts coronavirus could have on youth voter turnout.

Batten teams up with the Center for Politics and several public service-focused departments at UVA – including the Miller Center for Public Affairs, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and the UVA Career Center – to quickly design and launch a five-week virtual summer internship program.

Recent Batten alums are making their mark across the sectors and around the globe. Of those seeking positions, 99% of graduates from Batten’s Bachelor of Arts degree program and 96% of those who graduated from the Master of Public Policy degree program secured a career destination within six months of graduating.

Music has always been at the core of Chloe Cohen, who will become a “Double-Hoo” after earning her master’s degree from the Batten School next month.

During the most recent Batten Expert Chat, a Batten professor and a graduate of the School’s MPP program shared how they’re using data science to help address the Commonwealth’s shortage in healthcare professionals.

As the economy experiences a steep recession, a panel of UVA economists including Batten's Sarah Turner and David Bradford examined the implications for the nation’s material and physical health.

From celebrating last season’s UVA’s basketball championship with friends to starting a network for Hispanic and Latinx students at Batten, Brian Zuluaga says he’ll never forget his time as a UVA student.