Alumni - Engage With Darden
Engage With Darden
Learn how you can support Darden and help us move closer to fulfilling the School's mission.
Alumni, parents and friends make up the vibrant Darden community. With their involvement, the School moves closer to fulfilling its mission. Darden welcomes participation through a donation of time, talent and treasure. Hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors each year take advantage of a host of opportunities to contribute. We are confident that you will find a meaningful way to engage with the School.
Three ways to take immediate action are:
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Complete our Alumni Interest Form to share your experiences and passions so we can pair you with impactful engagement opportunities.
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Make a multi-year pledge to support Darden’s Annual Fund.
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Review the FY25 Menu of Opportunities to get involved in various School and Foundation initiatives.
Evergreen opportunities by interest area are also detailed below.
Please consider the opportunities below or offer new suggestions by contacting Shaele Culbreath, assistant vice president of Darden's Office of Engagement.
Ways to Support Darden
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Admissions
Dawna Clarke, Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid: clarked@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-924-1817
- Share the names of prospective students to help recruit the next generation of talented MBA and Executive MBA students.
- Tell talented fourth- or fifth-year college students about Darden’s new Future Year Scholars program.
- Speak directly to a recently admitted student or host a yield event.
- Spread the news about the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), delivered in partnership between Darden and UVA's McIntire School of Commerce. The first cohort began in August 2018.
- Along with alumni around the world, host a coffee chat for prospective students in your city.
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Advancement
Samantha Hartog, Interim Vice President for Advancement: hartogs@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-982-2151
- Contribute to the Darden Annual Fund each year.
- Support the Powered by Purpose campaign.
- Send us names of individuals who or corporations that may be interested in naming opportunities for facilities.
- Host an Advancement or campaign event.
- Share names of classmates or other Darden alumni who would make good philanthropic prospects or who would be interested in learning about what’s currently happening at the School.
- Volunteer for your reunion giving committee during your next reunion year.
- Read Pillars: the Power of Philanthropy in the news to stay up to date on philanthropic activities and initiatives.
- Join the Corporate Partners Program to strengthen your company’s enterprise-wide relationship with Darden.
- Share feedback with us on the donor experience — let us know how we can elevate our donor engagement and stewardship opportunities.
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Alumni Career Services
Jen Coleman, Executive Director of the Armstrong Center for Alumni Career Services: colemanje@darden.virginia.edu, +1- 434-924-3029
- Recommend Alumni Career Services to your classmates and Darden colleagues.
- Post career opportunities on the Alumni Career Services Job Board.
- Register for the Darden Hiring Network email and help fellow alumni who are seeking opportunities.
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Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Sean Carr, Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: carrs@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-924-4812
- Refer top applicants to the Batten Scholars Program.
- Co-sponsor a First Year Darden intern through the Batten Venture Internship Program or Technology Venture Fellows.
- Advise student entrepreneurs in the i.Lab Incubator program or Darden Venture Lab.
- Connect us with companies for our Global Innovators Roundtable and Jefferson Innovation Summit events.
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Brand
Julie Daum, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer: daumj@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-243-3911
- Activate the brand on social media. Follow Darden, like and share our posts, and use the hashtags #whydarden and #putyourwhytowork. Sign up to become a social media ambassador on the Alumni section of the Darden website.
- LinkedIn – Follow Darden School of Business; add "UVA Darden" to your profile in Education
- Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – @DardenMBA
- Read The Darden Report online and Darden Ideas to Action, and click on the social media icons in the stories to share with your networks.
- Activate the brand on social media. Follow Darden, like and share our posts, and use the hashtags #whydarden and #putyourwhytowork. Sign up to become a social media ambassador on the Alumni section of the Darden website.
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Career Development Center
Jeff McNish, Assistant Dean of Career Development: mcnishj@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-297-7971
- Recommend summer internships for First Year students.
- Participate in and encourage others to participate in the Darden Military Network Partner Program, Executive MBA Alumni Network Partner Program, and the International Student and Alumni Connection Program.
- Volunteer to connect with a student to advise and encourage advancement in his or her career.
- Advocate for your HR department to post open positions at Darden.
- Update us on your organization’s policy on hiring international students and share any policy changes, competitions, opportunities, etc. We can coach students more effectively with real-time information from you
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Engagement
Shaele Culbreath, Assistant Vice President of Engagement: culbreaths@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-924-4574
- Attend regional events and encourage your Darden network to participate.
- Host summer receptions, holiday parties, meetings or other events in your home, office or club.
- Participate in your reunion committee; attend Darden Reunion.
- Provide submissions for Class Notes in The Darden Report alumni magazine and keep your alumni profile up to date.
- Serve as class or chapter volunteers and other volunteer roles, or recommend classmates.
- Launch, support or participate in an affinity group (career industry, women, etc.) in your local chapter.
- Share your expertise with a student club, attend student conferences, or participate in student and faculty research projects.
- Serve on one of Darden’s leadership boards.
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Executive Education
Ashley Williams, CEO and Chief Learning Officer, Executive Education and Lifelong Learning: williamsa@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-924-4879
- Return to Darden for a booster short course or recommend organizations for custom solutions.
- Send your staff to our open-enrollment and online programs.
- Refer colleagues from your personal and business networks to a Darden open-enrollment short course or The Executive Program (TEP)
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Global
Marc Johnson, Senior Executive Director of Global Affairs and Enterprise Initiatives: johnsonr@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-982-4527
- Propose a Global Consulting Project to work with a team of current students. They earn credit and valuable skills, and you have access to top talent focused on a particular challenge.
- Connect us with companies for Darden Worldwide corporate visits.
- Recommend potential partner organizations that can expand Darden’s reach and impact globally.
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UVA Darden Sands Family Grounds
Alex Lungi, Sands Family Grounds General Manager: lungia@darden.virginia.edu, +1-401-566-5303
- Take advantage of the new UVA Darden Sands Family Grounds in the Rosslyn district of Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. Host an event, conference or board meeting.