Resources Faculty & Staff Directory Faculty & Staff Directory B D G L M N Facet Last Name - Directory Faculty Staff Facet Person Type - Directory International Development Humanitarian Policy Education Global Politics & International Relations Political Science Facet Area of Focus - Directory UVA Humanitarian Collaborative Department of Politics Facet UVA Partner - Directory Budget & Finance EdPolicyWorks: Center for Education Policy and Workforce Competitiveness Dean’s Office Information Technology National Security Policy Center Center for Effective Lawmaking Development Social Innovation @ UVA Student & Alumni Services External Affairs (-) Academic Affairs (-) UVA Humanitarian Collaborative Facet Batten Department - Directory Lucy Bassett Professor of Practice in Public Policy; Co-Director, UVA Humanitarian Collaborative lb2zr@virginia.edu 434-243-1251 Lucy Bassett is a professor of practice in public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Bassett is an expert in children, caregivers, and communities in humanitarian and development contexts. Over her 15 year career, Bassett has worked with governments in low- and middle-income countries to expand access to quality education, nutrition and social protection services, particularly for poor and marginalized children and families. 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 Kirsten Gelsdorf Professor of Practice in Public Policy; Co-Director, UVA Humanitarian Collaborative kg8v@virginia.edu Garrett Hall Kirsten Gelsdorf is a professor of practice in public policy and Co-Director of the UVA Humanitarian Collaborative in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Gelsdorf has 19 years of experience working in the humanitarian sector, most recently serving as the Chief of the Policy Analysis and Innovation section at the United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Read full bio David Leblang Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and Mrs. Marion R. Taylor Endowed Professor of Politics and Professor of Public Policy leblang@virginia.edu 434-243-1574 Gibson Hall David Leblang is a professor of public policy at the Batten School, the Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and Mrs Marion R. Taylor Endowed Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and the Randolph Compton Professor of Public Affairs at UVA's Miller Center. Leblang is a scholar of political economy with research interests in global migration and in the politics of financial markets. 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 Naseemah Mohamed Assistant Professor of African American and African Studies egu8ng@virginia.edu Naseemah Mohamed is an assistant professor of African American and African studies at the University of Virginia. Her interdisciplinary research examines the relationships among education, media, technology, global politics, and violence in 20th-century. 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
Lucy Bassett Professor of Practice in Public Policy; Co-Director, UVA Humanitarian Collaborative lb2zr@virginia.edu 434-243-1251 Lucy Bassett is a professor of practice in public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Bassett is an expert in children, caregivers, and communities in humanitarian and development contexts. Over her 15 year career, Bassett has worked with governments in low- and middle-income countries to expand access to quality education, nutrition and social protection services, particularly for poor and marginalized children and families. 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
Kirsten Gelsdorf Professor of Practice in Public Policy; Co-Director, UVA Humanitarian Collaborative kg8v@virginia.edu Garrett Hall Kirsten Gelsdorf is a professor of practice in public policy and Co-Director of the UVA Humanitarian Collaborative in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Gelsdorf has 19 years of experience working in the humanitarian sector, most recently serving as the Chief of the Policy Analysis and Innovation section at the United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Read full bio
David Leblang Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and Mrs. Marion R. Taylor Endowed Professor of Politics and Professor of Public Policy leblang@virginia.edu 434-243-1574 Gibson Hall David Leblang is a professor of public policy at the Batten School, the Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and Mrs Marion R. Taylor Endowed Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and the Randolph Compton Professor of Public Affairs at UVA's Miller Center. Leblang is a scholar of political economy with research interests in global migration and in the politics of financial markets. 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
Naseemah Mohamed Assistant Professor of African American and African Studies egu8ng@virginia.edu Naseemah Mohamed is an assistant professor of African American and African studies at the University of Virginia. Her interdisciplinary research examines the relationships among education, media, technology, global politics, and violence in 20th-century. 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