Resources Faculty & Staff Directory Faculty & Staff Directory A D L M N V Facet Last Name - Directory Staff Faculty Facet Person Type - Directory Domestic Policy & Politics Political Science Facet Area of Focus - Directory Center for Effective Lawmaking Karsh Institute of Democracy Facet UVA Partner - Directory Budget & Finance EdPolicyWorks: Center for Education Policy and Workforce Competitiveness Dean’s Office Information Technology National Security Policy Center UVA Humanitarian Collaborative Development Social Innovation @ UVA Student & Alumni Services External Affairs (-) Academic Affairs (-) Center for Effective Lawmaking Facet Batten Department - Directory Colin Achilles Associate Director, Center for Effective Lawmaking cachilles@virginia.edu 434-243-7180 Colin Achilles is the Associate Director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), a joint partnership between the Batten School and Vanderbilt University. He is the manager of day-to-day operations at CEL. 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 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 Amy D. Meli Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Effective Lawmaking vwm6xu@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L028 Amy Meli is a postdoctoral research associate at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, working with the Center for Effective Lawmaking. Her research centers around interest groups and the way they influence the political system. 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 Craig Volden Professor of Public Policy and Politics; Co-director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking volden@virginia.edu 434-243-3725 Garrett Hall Craig Volden is a professor of public policy and politics at the University of Virginia, with appointments in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the Department of Politics. He studies the politics of public policy, with a focus on what policy choices arise within legislative institutions and within American federalism. He is founder and co-director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking. Read full bio
Colin Achilles Associate Director, Center for Effective Lawmaking cachilles@virginia.edu 434-243-7180 Colin Achilles is the Associate Director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), a joint partnership between the Batten School and Vanderbilt University. He is the manager of day-to-day operations at CEL. 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
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
Amy D. Meli Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Effective Lawmaking vwm6xu@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L028 Amy Meli is a postdoctoral research associate at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, working with the Center for Effective Lawmaking. Her research centers around interest groups and the way they influence the political system. 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
Craig Volden Professor of Public Policy and Politics; Co-director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking volden@virginia.edu 434-243-3725 Garrett Hall Craig Volden is a professor of public policy and politics at the University of Virginia, with appointments in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the Department of Politics. He studies the politics of public policy, with a focus on what policy choices arise within legislative institutions and within American federalism. He is founder and co-director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking. Read full bio