News

Bryan Stevenson
Apr 11, 2025

A “Fierce Moral Advocate,” Bryan Stevenson Inspires UVA Batten Audience

Almost 200 people came to Garrett Hall to hear from renowned civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson, recipient of the 2025 Thomas Jefferson Medal in Citizen Leadership. He spoke with UVA Batten Dean Ian H. Solomon, who introduced Stevenson as a "fierce moral advocate," with an abiding dedication to helping the poor, the incarcerated, the wrongly accused, and others whom society largely has forgotten or neglected. 

 

Rob Sachs
Apr 08, 2025

Leading With Your Best Tape

The tools to bring podcasts to market have never been more accessible, but doing a project well and gaining traction is a more complex story. While nearly 80 percent of listeners finish the episodes they start, most podcasts are lucky to reach 100 listeners, said 

 

Award-winning podcaster Rob Sachs, who is vice president of audio at Foreign Policy magazine, joined us for Batten Hour this week to workshop ideas on how to produce and sustain a compelling podcast. 

Paul Decker
Apr 02, 2025

The Next Age of Disruption in Evidence-Based Policymaking

From his vantage point as an economist and analyst for the past four decades, Paul Decker sees the world on the cusp of a new era of policymaking driven by the unprecedented availability of data and by artificial intelligence. Decker was the featured speaker at this week’s Batten Hour. He is president and CEO of Mathematica, an employee-owned data analysis, research, and evaluation firm with global reach. 

Jacob Rizzio
Mar 27, 2025

Student Spotlight: Jacob Rizzio, BA ‘25

Before he’s even graduated from UVA Batten, Jacob Rizzio already has hands-on public policy experience, from interning on various planning projects with York County, Virginia, where he’s from, to the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. His favorite memory from his time at Batten? Read his spotlight to find out. 

A.E. Dick Howard
Mar 27, 2025

A.E. Dick Howard Receives 2025 Outstanding Virginian Award

Renowned international constitutional law expert and the longest-serving professor at UVA, A.E. Dick Howard has been selected as this year’s Outstanding Virginian. The award is given by a committee of Virginia General Assembly, on which UVA Batten Dean Ian H. Solomon serves, to honor those whose contributions, achievements, and leadership inspire citizens of the commonwealth.  

A'dorian Murray-Thomas
Mar 27, 2025

A’dorian Murray-Thomas: Turning Personal Trauma into Public Service

Nonprofit founder and history-making elected official A’dorian Murray-Thomas shared her experience, strength, and hope from the perspective of a young leader with students during Monday’s Batten Hour. Her talk was equal parts inspiring and inquisitive, exploring the power of youth storytelling, service, and transforming trauma into fuel for social change.

Martin Luther King, III
Mar 19, 2025

Reflections on Legacy: Martin Luther King III at Garrett Hall

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.

 

Dr. Maya Haasz
Mar 4, 2025

Gun Safety is Everyone’s Concern

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. 

Garrett Hall at Sunset

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