In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, protests demanding justice and respect for Black lives have swept the country and the world. For this week’s installment of Batten’s Expert Chat Series, Dean Ian Solomon will moderate a panel of trustees from the University of Virginia’s IDEA Fund for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA).

Join us for "The New Age of Advocacy: Wide-ranging Tools to Effect Change" with Batten alum, Irma Palmer (MPP '15), current speechwriter for U.S. Senator Kamala Harris. 

Please join us for "Rethinking and Reshaping Prosecution" as we hear from Jamila Hodge, director of the Reshaping Prosecution Program at the Vera Institute of Justice. 

Mike Henry, Chief of Staff for Senator Tim Kaine, will join Center for Effective Lawmaking Co-Director, Professor Craig Volden, for a virtual conversation regarding life as a professional Congressional staffer. Join us for a conversation about the impactful research, which led to a memo of recommendation to the House of Representatives, with someone who knows first-hand what it means to be effective on the Hill.

The global demand for clean water far exceeds the supply. During the age of COVID-19, issues of water quality and scarcity are especially pressing for communities around the world. Join Jon Freedman of Suez Water Technologies and Charles Iceland of the World Resources Institute for the latest installment of Batten’s Expert Chat Series, moderated this week by Batten's Greer Kelly.

As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the nation and the world, it will undoubtedly alter the way we make policy. Join Batten professor Andy Pennock for a panel discussion with early-career policymakers in federal, state, and local government. What challenges are policymakers facing as a result of COVID-19? What will change about the way they approach their work, and what will remain constant? 

Join the Batten community for a special sunset toast on the eve of Virtual Final Exercises as we gather together to celebrate the Class of 2020. Batten faculty, staff, and students in the Class of 2020 are invited to participate.

What is the state of health-coverage during COVID-19 times, and the role of both policymakers and employers in addressing this growing crisis? Please join us on Wednesday, May 13th at 1:30 PM for another installment of our expert chat series.

Is good leadership different during a crisis than during periods of business and usual? Please join us on Wednesday, May 6th at 2:00 PM for another installment of our expert chat series. 

Join us for a study break and focus on wellness, as Erin Henshaw, co-founder of the Mind Body Project, will lead us in a mindfulness exercise program: "Accessing personal wisdom and perspective in uncertain times."