Being an effective advocate has become an essential part of leadership in the nonprofit sector. With advances in technology and the increased participation in new media platforms, engagement between leaders from both the public and private sectors has become a necessary task. However, few have been trained to execute this critical role effectively. The policymaking process of the U.S. government, one based in the principles of federalism and democracy, is complex and confounding, but also accessible – with the proper set of knowledge and skills. Knowing the difference between educating government officials versus lobbying, how to galvanize the voices of your members, what types of tools to use for various audiences, and how to craft persuasive – and therefore successful – messages all can be learned. While the “recipe” for lobbying can be applied at any level of government, successful advocacy requires knowledge regarding pertinent data, policy research, strategic planning, grassroots organizing, and succinct and persuasive message development.  To address this gap, the Batten School, in collaboration with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, is designing a three-part workshop series to give nonprofit leaders the knowledge and skills for successful policy advocacy.

In this lecture, Batten School professor Melissa Thomas-Hunt discusses how leadership can start with connection, including how an organization can create the "magical moment of connection."

In front of an enthusiastic crowd in Garrett Hall, Mary Dana Hinton, President of Hollins University, and Ian Solomon, Dean of the Batten School, discussed various topics on leadership, including being authentic and vulnerable as well as showing compassion towards oneself and others.

In this lecture, assistant professor of public policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Eileen Chou, shared what "leadership" is and how we can (or can not) measure it.

A weeklong Policy Leadership Advocacy by Youth, or PLAY, Program held at the Frank Batten Schol of Leadership and Public Policy introduced nearly 50 high school students from Charlottesville and the surrounding areas to the world of public policy and leadership.

Dean of the Batten School, Ian Solomon, will host a conversation with the President of Hollins University, Mary Dana Hinton. President Hinton and the Dean will discuss the past, present and future of women in leadership and higher education.

How can we ensure that teams can fulfill their full cognitive potential?  This paper explores how team members can be motivated so that, collectively, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

The Pilot and Legacy Awards, named in honor of the Batten School’s late founder, Frank Batten, Sr., are the most prestigious student-nominated awards for graduating Master of Public Policy students and students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Leadership.

General Nakasone will deliver the commencement address during the school’s first in-person Academic Regalia Ceremony since 2019, set to take place at James Monroe’s Highland on Saturday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Batten School honored Sesame Workshop President Sherrie Rollins Westin with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership. Each year on Jefferson’s birthday, UVA and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello award the medals for exemplary achievement in fields the former president admired.