Past Events

Whether we are discussing affordable housing, access to healthcare, racial equity, gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, forced displacement, or climate change, current and aspiring policymakers should see the private sector as a key partner, Batten professor Christine Mahoney argues. For the next installment of Batten Expert Chats, Mahoney will speak and take questions on how investments can act as an engine for positive social impact.

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Air pollution in the United States has decreased significantly over the last few decades. But poor, minority communities have remained the most polluted, according to a newly published study from two UVA professors and their co-authors. During the next installment of Batten Expert Chats, Batten’s Jay Shimshack and Jonathan Colmer of UVA’s Department of Economics will discuss and take questions on their research and on why it matters.

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In August 2017, white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville and the University of Virginia for the Unite the Right rally, now familiar to people around the world. Rally attendees met counter-protestors in a violent clash that killed a peaceful protestor. UVA and Charlottesville were caught unprepared. On the third anniversary of this event, Batten’s dean, Ian Solomon, will speak with Risa Goluboff, dean of the UVA School of Law, and take questions from the audience. As chair of the Deans Working Group, Dean Goluboff led efforts to assess the University’s response to the rally and make recommendations for change.

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As we approach the third anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded in Charlottesville from August 11-12, 2017, we invite you to join us for a virtual program that allows us to connect with our community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 

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In the midst of the current health crisis, we’re facing food insecurity of “biblical proportions,” according to the UN’s World Food Programme. During the next installment of Batten Expert Chats, Batten lecturer Galen Fountain will speak and take questions on how the pandemic is influencing the food supply both domestically and globally. He’ll also offer his recommendations for addressing the situation.

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At a moment when our country’s inequalities have come into sharp focus, many colleges and universities are looking to make their institutions more inclusive. But what does a meaningful commitment to diversity actually look like? In this week’s installment of Batten Expert Chats, Dana Laurens (COL ’09, MPP ’10), senior associate for policy and advocacy at Education Reform Now, and her colleague, Michael Dannenberg, Director of Strategic Initiatives for Policy, will speak and take questions on the types of policies needed to hold institutions, including the University of Virginia, accountable for following through on pledges and statements about racial equity and inclusivity.

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Black Americans are systematically under-treated for pain relative to White Americans. For the next edition of Batten’s Expert Chats Series, Batten professor Sophie Trawalter will discuss research indicating that people--including individuals with medical training--believe that Blacks (vs. Whites) feel less pain. Join the conversation on Zoom.

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