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Driving through Southwest Virginia, Richard Tadler, a venture capitalist and UVA graduate, was able to see firsthand some of the challenges that Virginia’s rural communities are facing; but more importantly, he was struck by the opportunities they present both for impact investors interested in facilitating economic growth at a time of transition, and for UVA students to learn about all the exciting sustainable economic development going on in their own backyard.

As University students savored their last day of summer earlier this week, Batten students skipped the pool and instead dedicated their last day of break to serving others. Batten Builds, which celebrated its 10th anniversary on Monday, Aug. 26, is a student-led community service initiative that allows Batten students, faculty, and staff to give back to the Charlottesville community.

“Lead from anywhere” is a familiar phrase to members of the Batten community, and one that students especially take to heart. Batten’s student organizations reflect that exact ethos and keep the Batten community curious and engaged, allowing students to strengthen their leadership skills outside of the classroom.

Eric Ramputh (BA ’19) applied to the Batten School on a whim. Ramputh, who transferred to UVA and into the Batten School in 2017, recalls how he discovered the school and why it ultimately was the right fit for him.

This past June, Batten professors Lucy Bassett and Andrew Pennock participated in the University’s Teaching Race at UVA seminar. Launched in the summer of 2018, the seminar which is an initiative of the Office of the Provost grew out of a desire to deepen faculty’s understanding of the University’s and greater Charlottesville’s complicated history with race.

Working on issues related to rural poverty may not be as glamorous as other high-profile policy issues, but for Evelyn Immonen (MPP ’18), the margin of good that can be done in just one small town is worth the effort and commitment

The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy welcomed four new professors to its distinguished faculty for the 2019-20 academic year. The Batten School considers not only academic rigor, but also real-world experience, political impact, teaching, and mentoring when recruiting faculty members.

The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers at the beginning of their research careers.

The University of Virginia has been recognized for Social Entrepreneurship @UVA’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowering the next generation of future changemakers and citizen leaders.

“My mother was a professor of nursing at the University of North Dakota, and she served as associate dean of the School of Nursing for a number of years,” said Volden. “So, I grew up with an example of what it meant to be a valued professor and an academic leader. Although I thought of pursuing other paths along the way, this one felt very natural to me as I finished college and started into graduate school.”

"Beginning with their extraordinary gift to establish the Batten School in 2007, the Batten family continues to shape the face of leadership education for the 21st century," said Ian Solomon, Batten School dean-elect.

Affiliated Batten faculty member, Larry Terry, who is the executive director of the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service discusses the best practices and strategies for criminal justice reform.