Meet Rodney Rhodes, BA ‘23. While at Batten, Rhodes was a teaching assistant and Lead Batten Ambassador. He also participated in UVA Equity Center’s program as a career counselor for underrepresented youth in the local community. He’s currently an associate at the Public Service Leadership Institute. 

Meet Kiara Rogers, BA '19, who was among the first full graduating class of UVA’s Blue Ridge Scholars. After receiving a degree from Columbia Law School, she’s now an associate at Williams & Connolly in New York City. She was recently featured in the StoryBooth video series by UVA’s Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

Sarah Alexander (BA ’19) is the incoming president of the Batten Alumni Advisory Board (BAAB). A native of New Orleans, La., she grew up understanding how offshore energy development and coastal environmental restoration are intertwined, and has pursued that interest through her career in Congress and most recently with a D.C. public policy firm. 
 

Two UVA Batten MPP students who are graduating this week had the opportunity to collaborate with alumnus Cameron Haddad (MPP '19) this semester on a project for the World Bank, providing them hands-on experience in policy work. As a student, Haddad worked on a World Bank project with professor Lucy Bassett, who connected the three in February. 

Andrew Bishop (MPP ’20) is advancing innovation in Richmond Public Schools, where he is director for Data Systems and Research in the district’s Talent Office. Bishop leads efforts to improve technological infrastructure across the district, working to strengthen internal systems that support educators and staff. 

After a stint as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House of Reprsenatives, Alec Scicchitano (BA ’21) recently started a new job as the head of politics, press, and public affairs at the British Consulate General in Boston, where he works to strengthen relations between the United Kingdom and United States across New England. 

The path to a new job for new graduates and alumni comes with twists and turns, and plenty of stress. A key skill that we impart here at UVA Batten is the ability to remain flexible and open to unexpected opportunity, pivoting as needed. Meet Jimmy Flood (BA ’23), who has successfully shifted his plans. 

Two recent UVA Batten graduates had a rare opportunity last summer to support one of the country’s leading organizations working on global hunger. Sadie Rogerson and Emma Nardone were selected to participate — with full funding — in a pilot of the UVA Batten Humanitarian Collaborative Fellowship program.

Maggie Anderson (MPP ‘18) and Brian Williams, associate professor of public policy at Batten, met during the summer of 2020 when she reached out to him for assistance with the implementation of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s Task Force on Reimagining Public Safety. Tensions were at a breaking point in the city following the murder of George Floyd. The mayor had entrusted Anderson with the creation of this initiative, with the goal of building reform and trust with the community. Williams believes the job was placed in the most capable of hands.    

As a young girl, Lauren Russell raised $20 for a children's hospital at her lemonade stand in Newport News. Fast forward to more recently, Russell (MPP '17) helped to raise more than $50,000 for the Batten School in her role as a member of the Executive Committee of the Batten Alumni Advisory Board.