The Batten School Announces Employment Outcomes for 2019 Graduates

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.

Recent Batten alums are making their mark across the sectors and around the globe.

Batten students visit the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. 

Today, the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy announced career outcomes for the graduates of its 2019 classes. 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 (MPP) degree program secured a career destination within six months of graduating. This high success rate reflects the Batten School’s commitment to shaping leaders who are dedicated, driven, and prepared to tackle the complex problems facing the world today. 

Of Batten’s 2019 MPP graduates, 19% entered governmental or non-profit consulting. Another 23% secured government positions, with 12% engaged at the federal and 11% at the state or local levels. Seven percent have joined the private sector, and 8% are employed in private-sector consulting. MPP graduates are working in cities all over the country and around the world, from D.C. and San Francisco to Tokyo and Glasgow.

Alexandre Fall (MPP ’19), who is employed with the Pew Charitable Trusts, said the School’s “hands on approach to instruction” was the perfect preparation for his new position. “The practical orientation of the assignments I had to complete throughout my time in the program gave me the skills and experience necessary to be fully prepared for my first job out of college,” Fall said. “Batten cultivated my abilities as a policy writer, problem-solver, and team worker—abilities I know will continue to be useful throughout my career.” 

Of the 2019 graduates who completed Batten’s BA program, 26% are engaged in the private sector and 12% have accepted positions with the federal government. Twenty-eight percent have entered consulting roles, with 11% of those graduates in private consulting and 17% in governmental or nonprofit consulting. Graduates of the bachelor’s program are making an impact across the country in a wide range of locations, including New York City, Santa Monica, and New Orleans.

Lina Lenis (BA ‘19), who is staff assistant with the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, said “the well-rounded and rigorous education” she received at Batten positioned her for success. “It gave me the foundation and confidence to work in a fast-paced environment where I am constantly faced with novel tasks,” she said.

In addition to benefiting from an unparalleled education, Batten students receive access to the tools they need to succeed in their career searches. Through intensive resume reviews, career events, mock interviews, offer-negotiation assistance, and general career coaching, Batten’s Office of Career Services empowers students to pursue the careers that are the best possible fit for their particular goals and abilities. The office also offers a wealth of vital industry connections and an impressively broad alumni network. 

“Our goal is to help students become the purpose-driven leaders our world demands,” said Steve Hiss, director of career services at Batten. “We encourage students to seek meaningful career experiences, and we connect them with opportunities reflective of their skills and aspirations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. We are extremely proud of both the 2019 graduate and undergraduate classes and the incredible success they had in securing their first destination.”

As Batten’s 2019 employment outcomes demonstrate, the School’s graduates are making a tangible difference in our rapidly changing, globally connected world. Whether they’re engaged at the local, state, federal, or international level, Batten alums put the School’s deepest values into practice, leading with humility and purpose to effect transformational change.

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