Alum Spotlight: Adeline Sandridge (BA ‘19)

Graduates from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia enter public service equipped with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to address the complex policy challenges facing our world today. Career pathways often include federal, state, and local government leadership, consulting and strategy, private sector and research, and nonprofit roles. We asked one of our amazing alumni, Adeline Sandridge (BA ‘19) to tell us more about her experience at UVA Batten and what she’s done since graduation.  

Hailing from Crozet, Virginia, Adeline joined the Batten School in 2017 for the Bachelor of Arts program. Following her time at Batten, she joined the public affairs consulting firm, Hamilton Place Strategies, before moving to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for a Member of Congress. Today, she serves as the Director of Congressional Communications Learning & Development for the Chief Administrative Officer at the House of Representatives. Get to know more about Adeline below! 

Why did you choose UVA Batten? 

• I wanted to go into public service! 

How would you describe the Batten community?  

• Batten is fun, welcoming, supportive, and memorable. 

How were you able to explore your policy interests while at Batten? 

• I had a couple of internships, but most notably, during the summer before fourth year, I served as a public policy intern with the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement in Washington, DC. 

What’s one way Batten helped you grow personally or professionally?   

• It helped me grow my love for policy communications, which is what I’ve done for the last seven years. 

Similarly, how did Batten prepare you for your career in public policy? What skills and experiences at Batten set you up for success? 

• The biggest skills I gained were writing skills, critical thinking, and a heavy course load in time management. 

What course or academic experience was a highlight of your time at Batten? 

• I loved Prof. Campanelli’s Ethics in Public Policy course during spring of fourth year. Rarely in policy debates on the Hill are issues truly black and white. The Ethics class helped me see a problem from all sides and understand different approaches, which can be helpful in policy making. 

Beyond academics, what are some other memories that stand out from your time at Batten?  

• I served on the Batten Undergraduate Council as the Director of Communications, which was similar to a couple of my professional roles post-graduation. 

What piece of advice would you give to a student considering Batten? 

• It was the best part of my time at UVA and equipped me for the public policy landscape on Capitol Hill.