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.

Batten student DeAnza Cook is one of two undergraduate students recently awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Miller Center.

University of Virginia students and faculty last September formed the Tri-Sector Leadership Fellows program, an innovative effort that brings together students and professors from three fields of graduate study – law, business and public policy – to learn about each sector and gain a competitive advantage and a more expansive network as they enter the workplace after graduation.

Zach Blackburn’s interest in public policy and his eventual decision to enroll in the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy all began with an unexpected family trip to Latvia.

We canvassed the world of the social and behavioral sciences, looking for rising stars whose careers promise to make a lasting mark. We’ll be profiling the top 30 throughout the month of April.

On Wednesday evening, Hale and Stam shared these life lessons with students as a part of Housing and Residence Life’s 24th edition of the Last Lecture Series. An annual spring tradition, the Last Lecture invites the University’s  finest faculty members to impart their wisdom and knowledge to students as if it is their very last opportunity to do so.

Second-year MPP candidate Caryl Merten is no stranger to foreign languages. As an undergraduate student, she received a degree in Foreign Affairs with a minor in French, and spent two years as senior resident in the language houses.