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In its 5th biennial report on the effectiveness of U.S. senators and representatives, the Center for Effective Lawmaking found that despite deep political and procedural disruptions, the 118th Congress passed hundreds of laws. It also noted that the exit of some of the highest-scoring members may strain the lawmaking capacity of Congress in the years ahead.

In a very special event at Garrett Hall this week, Martin Luther King, III told stories of his childhood and shared his lifelong vision of building a stronger, more connected and caring community, which is the theme of his new book. The event was sponsored by the UVA Center for Politics, where King is a professor of practice, and hosted by the UVA Batten School.

UVA Batten assistant professor Andrew Simon and his co-authors explore the “racial excellence gap” in primary and secondary schools in their article, published in Nature, one of the world's leading scientific journals.

Dr. Maya Haasz, a pediatric emergency room physician and an associate professor at the University of Colorado, is an expert in firearm injuries among youth — the leading cause of death of people under 20 in the United States. At this week's Batten Hour, she discussed the importance of changing cultural norms in order to address the epidemic.

After a stint as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Alec Scicchitano (BA ’21) recently started a new job as the head of politics, press, and public affairs at the British Consulate General in Boston, where he works to strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and United States across New England.

Our guest speaker for Batten Hour this week was U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson for the Maryland District who presides over the busiest docket for federal misdemeanor charges in the country.

UVA Batten hosted the “Annual Behavioral Science Across Grounds Conference” earlier this month, bringing some of the brightest minds of UVA’s research community to Garrett Hall to exchange ideas, interests, and insights. Associate professor Ben Converse gave the keynote.

At this week's Batten Hour, professor, entrepreneur, and former star athlete Deborah Stroman unpacked the history and policy implications of the "seismic shifts" in college athletics in recent years, including Name, Image, and Likeness rights and the NCAA transfer portal.

The path to a new job for new graduates and alumni comes with twists and turns, and plenty of stress. A key skill that we impart here at UVA Batten is the ability to remain flexible and open to unexpected opportunity, pivoting as needed. Meet Jimmy Flood (BA ’23), who has successfully shifted his plans.

Congratulations to UVA Batten associate professor Benjamin Castleman who has received the 2024 University Public Impact Focused Research Award for his outstanding scholarship and public service to improve college success and job opportunities for America’s lower-income populations.

The Black Student Leaders in Policy hosted M'Balu “Lu” Bangura, a dynamic leader in civil rights and equity advocacy, during a special Batten Hour this week. She was interviewed by second-year Batten MPP student Priscilla Akpalu.

In her conversation with Dean Ian Solomon at this week's Batten Hour, lawyer, scholar and global leader Anne-Marie Slaughter reflected on how the country can move forward from this moment of extreme political polarization and economic and environmental uncertainty across the globe.