Resources Faculty & Staff Directory Faculty & Staff Directory D F L M N R S Facet Last Name - Directory Staff Facet Person Type - Directory Facet Area of Focus - Directory Facet UVA Partner - Directory Budget & Finance EdPolicyWorks: Center for Education Policy and Workforce Competitiveness Information Technology National Security Policy Center UVA Humanitarian Collaborative Center for Effective Lawmaking Development Social Innovation @ UVA Student & Alumni Services External Affairs (-) Academic Affairs (-) Dean’s Office Facet Batten Department - Directory Heather Downs Director of Academic Operations hld8m@virginia.edu 434-924-6035 Garrett L052 Heather Downs joined Batten in December 2023 as the Director of Academic Operations. She has served UVA Athletics since 2013, most recently as the Executive Director of Student Development. Read full bio Brian Ford Senior HR Business Partner ayh2zf@virginia.edu As an HR leader with 20 years experience, Brian Ford currently is the Sr. HR Partner for the Batten School and McIntire School of Commerce. Prior to UVA, he led the Employee Experience function for the eastern US region at VMLY&R. In this capacity, he and his team drive culture, talent management and the overall employee experience for offices such as New York, Atlanta & Miami. Prior to VMLY&R, Brian was Chief People Officer at Fusion Media Group and had sr. leadership roles at Ogilvy, LG Electronics and Mercedes-Benz USA. Read full bio Gianpaolo Licata Associate Director of Academic Operations licatag@virginia.edu Gianpaolo Licata is the Associate Director of Academic Operations at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Read full bio Craig Lindqvist Associate Dean for Administration csl3g@virginia.edu (434) 243-7528 Craig Lindqvist serves as the Associate Dean for Administration at the Batten School where he oversees the school's business affairs, planning, finances, personnel, technology, facilities, and other non-academic functions. Read full bio Jennett Murphy Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs jennett.murphy@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L042 Jennett Murphy is the Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs at the Batten School and is responsible for supporting and managing processes to advance the success of the faculty. Read full bio Kristine Nelson Associate Director of Academic Operations knelson@virginia.edu 434-924-9282 Garrett Hall L050 Kristine Nelson is an Associate Director of Academic Operations at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Read full bio Jill Rockwell Senior Assistant Dean of Career Advancement and Alumni Engagement jill.rockwell@virginia.edu 434-924-7950 Garrett Hall 204 Jill Rockwell, Senior Assistant Dean of Career Advancement and Alumni Engagement at UVA Batten, and her team are focused on the professional success of our graduates and alumni as well as activating our alumni network in support of the school. Read full bio Lauren Shepherd Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives lds8n@virginia.edu Lauren Shepherd joined Batten in 2022, coming from Teach For America where she served as Managing Director, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Executive Director Learning. Prior to that, she served as the Chief of Staff to the TFA Bay Area Executive Director and as Managing Director of Teacher Onboarding Strategy. Originally trained as a journalist, she has professional experience as a writer and reporter as well as many years involved in strategic and operational planning, project management, partnerships, and talent development. Read full bio
Heather Downs Director of Academic Operations hld8m@virginia.edu 434-924-6035 Garrett L052 Heather Downs joined Batten in December 2023 as the Director of Academic Operations. She has served UVA Athletics since 2013, most recently as the Executive Director of Student Development. Read full bio
Brian Ford Senior HR Business Partner ayh2zf@virginia.edu As an HR leader with 20 years experience, Brian Ford currently is the Sr. HR Partner for the Batten School and McIntire School of Commerce. Prior to UVA, he led the Employee Experience function for the eastern US region at VMLY&R. In this capacity, he and his team drive culture, talent management and the overall employee experience for offices such as New York, Atlanta & Miami. Prior to VMLY&R, Brian was Chief People Officer at Fusion Media Group and had sr. leadership roles at Ogilvy, LG Electronics and Mercedes-Benz USA. Read full bio
Gianpaolo Licata Associate Director of Academic Operations licatag@virginia.edu Gianpaolo Licata is the Associate Director of Academic Operations at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Read full bio
Craig Lindqvist Associate Dean for Administration csl3g@virginia.edu (434) 243-7528 Craig Lindqvist serves as the Associate Dean for Administration at the Batten School where he oversees the school's business affairs, planning, finances, personnel, technology, facilities, and other non-academic functions. Read full bio
Jennett Murphy Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs jennett.murphy@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L042 Jennett Murphy is the Assistant Director of Faculty Affairs at the Batten School and is responsible for supporting and managing processes to advance the success of the faculty. Read full bio
Kristine Nelson Associate Director of Academic Operations knelson@virginia.edu 434-924-9282 Garrett Hall L050 Kristine Nelson is an Associate Director of Academic Operations at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Read full bio
Jill Rockwell Senior Assistant Dean of Career Advancement and Alumni Engagement jill.rockwell@virginia.edu 434-924-7950 Garrett Hall 204 Jill Rockwell, Senior Assistant Dean of Career Advancement and Alumni Engagement at UVA Batten, and her team are focused on the professional success of our graduates and alumni as well as activating our alumni network in support of the school. Read full bio
Lauren Shepherd Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives lds8n@virginia.edu Lauren Shepherd joined Batten in 2022, coming from Teach For America where she served as Managing Director, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Executive Director Learning. Prior to that, she served as the Chief of Staff to the TFA Bay Area Executive Director and as Managing Director of Teacher Onboarding Strategy. Originally trained as a journalist, she has professional experience as a writer and reporter as well as many years involved in strategic and operational planning, project management, partnerships, and talent development. Read full bio