Alum Spotlight: Manan Shah (BA ’22)

Numerous Batten graduates enter public service careers and work across a variety of government sectors. While many go to Washington D.C. to work on Capitol Hill, some choose a different path in state or local government, making huge differences all the same. The Batten Admissions team sat down with one of our amazing public servant alums, Manan Shah (BA ‘22). Hailing from Lynchburg, Virginia, Manan joined the Batten School in 2020. Following his time at Batten, he joined the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Today, he serves as a Policy Advisor at the NCRC, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. The NCRC is a coalition of 700+ grassroots organizations dedicated to building wealth in underserved communities. He advocates for public policies on behalf of these organizations that expand affordable housing, invest in small businesses, and create workforce opportunities. Get to know more about Manan below! 

Why did you choose Batten? 

• I chose Batten because of its emphasis on public service and civic leadership. Batten had a wide array of courses about not only analyzing policy but also using leadership strategies to build influence, bring people together, and implement long-term change in communities. 

How would you describe the Batten community?  

• Batten had a strong community of high-achieving and passionate students. There were a lot of informative events that deepened our insight into complex policy topics, like Batten Hour, and also some fun ones that helped build community, like the Batten chili cook-off. There was definitely a “work hard, play hard” type of vibe. 

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

• There were a lot of interesting electives at Batten that aligned with my interests in nonprofit work. Professor Paul Martin’s NGO course allowed us to complete site visits at local nonprofits and learn more about their challenges, achievements, and policy goals. By the end of the course, we were able to discuss and apply what we learned and award an actual grant to a nonprofit. Seeing the direct impact our work had on an NGO, and by extension, their clients, really inspired me to get a job at a nonprofit after graduation. 

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

• Batten has made me a better critical thinker and writer. I write many articles, memos, and comment letters in my current job, and the structure of these pieces follows the same style of policy writing assignments that I completed at Batten. I’m glad that I can apply what I learned in class at my work in ways that can have a serious impact. 

Similarly, how did Batten prepare you for your first role after graduating or your current role? What skills and experiences at Batten set you up for success? 

• Batten gave me the skillset, knowledge, and tools to advocate for policy change in my current role. From writing policy memos to analyzing data to building leadership skills, Batten has developed me into a stronger and more well-rounded public servant. 

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

• One course that was the highlight of my time at Batten was Professor Brian Williams’ capstone class on equity, social justice, and leadership. Professor Williams made me think differently about servant leadership, where leaders should work not for the community, but WITH the community to design policy solutions that truly meet the needs of marginalized groups. It made me realize how central community voice is to our efforts to build an equitable and inclusive democracy. I often find myself using this form of leadership to build grassroots coalitions in my current role. 

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

• The Batten Undergraduate Council’s Rotunda Dinner for 4th years was a great full circle moment for our cohort. 

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

• Anyone who wants to pursue a public service-oriented career should apply to Batten. Batten is a great place to apply your passion to serve the community and make a positive impact, even if it’s in small, subtle ways. I’d also highly encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to apply — we need a diverse range of voices to move our communities, country, and world closer towards fairness, inclusion, and justice.