This semester, we are spotlighting more current students on our blog, and the first student we are recognizing is Natalie Del Carmen Nuñez. Natalie is a 4th Year Batten student double majoring in Leadership & Public Policy and Global Development Studies. She is from Garfield, New Jersey and identifies as Dominican-American. Natalie has always found ways to support the communities around her. In high school, she was co-captain of her track and cross country team, and she was the student body president. When she arrived at UVA, Natalie recounts facing the adversity of being a Person of Color in a predominantly White institution, as well as the struggles of being an out-of-state student hundreds of miles from home. However, the community she has found at UVA has allowed her to achieve in ways that one could only describe as exceptional. She credits Latinx upperclassmen and the Latinx Peer Mentorship Program for extending grace, vulnerability, and love.

 Currently, Natalie is a proud sister of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a Latinx-based sorority that values education, diversity, and raises awareness of violence against women; Natalie currently serves as the Academic and Community Service Chair. Additionally, Natalie is recognized as a Meriwether Lewis Institute Fellow. She also serves as the Co-President of the Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society (PLUMAS). PLUMAS is a CIO dedicated to political education, serving the Latinx community on grounds and in Charlottesville, and working towards justice, community, and liberation on all fronts. Lastly, Natalie is the Co-President of the Fuego Dance Team of which she helped revive in Fall 2021!

Within Batten, Natalie has found a sense of community with fellow BIPOC students. Her favorite class so far has been Institutional and Political Context of Public Policy by Professor Paul Martin. When asked what Batten means to her, Natalie responded: “Batten means having the opportunity to grow in a challenging environment where community and representation aren’t always a given. It means not being afraid to ask the difficult questions in order to co-create a path for other underrepresented students. It is one of the critical tools I plan to employ in order to support communities that have historically been denied access to the policymaking arena.” She encourages prospective Batten students and 3rd Year BAs to “always speak your truth,” “remember your why,” and “be intentional with how you use your Batten education in life, your career, and supporting your community and communities around you.”

Be sure to read other student and alumni spotlights on our blog! If you have questions about any of our programs, be sure to check out our drop-in Friday Open Office Hours from 2-4 PM in Garrett Hall 106 or make an appointment with Anne or Courtney!