The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy is proud to announce the launch of the Batten Benefactors Society, an annual leadership giving program designed to recognize the School’s most generous donors and inspire others to contribute.

When Kiara Rogers stepped foot on the University of Virginia’s Grounds four years ago, she knew she wanted to pursue a pre-law track so that someday she could give a greater voice to other women and to the causes that she believed in.

The University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy today announced a new graduate-level course that will be taught by American author and historian Craig Shirley in the fall. The course, titled “Lessons in Leadership: Reagan,” will be the first-ever Batten School course to examine the historical and political context of Ronald Reagan’s presidency and how it translates to today’s political landscape.

UVA’s Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost created a new awards program to commend faculty for the contributions their public service makes to student learning, the advancement of scholarship and creative activity, and the University’s own public mission.

This week, the University honored its top teachers. Batten's Kirsten Gelsdorf was among those honored with the All-University Teaching Award

The Batten School announced a new partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) to provide emerging Latinx leaders with access to a new model of public policy education explicitly committed to teaching leadership and generating new knowledge to solve the world’s most difficult public policy challenges.

More than once while Sarah Alexander was growing up, her ballet teachers thought she should limit school and focus on a professional dance career. But the young dancer, who began taking lessons at the age of 3, was determined to figure out how to pursue both school and dance.

Congress is back from its August recess, and lawmakers face public demands for action on issues as varied as health care, infrastructure, gun safety and trade. Legislators face at least one set of “must pass” agenda items: 12 spending bills that need to be enacted into law by Oct. 1 or the federal government will shut down.

Paige McDermott (BA ‘15) and Stephanie Hough (BA ‘15) represented the school at a national conference and competition with representatives from 14 peer institutions to vie for the top prize of $50,000. McDermott and Hough’s proposal won the top prize this past weekend.

Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Each summer the University of Virginia and Presidential Precinct welcome young African leaders to Charlottesville for a multi-week training program with faculty, researchers, civic leaders and students.