Engage with Darden

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:

  1. Complete our Alumni Interest Form to share your experiences and passions so we can pair you with impactful engagement opportunities.

    Alumni Interest Form

  2. Make a multi-year pledge to support Darden’s Annual Fund.

    Darden Pledge Form

  3. Review the FY25 Menu of Opportunities to get involved in various School and Foundation initiatives.

    Menu of Opportunities

    Evergreen opportunities by interest area are also detailed below.

Abbott Society inductees
Contributors Celebration
Japanese Garden dedication
Darden DC TechConnect
Darden Alumni Career Panel in DC

Abbott Society inductees

Contributors celebration

Japanese Garden dedication

Darden DC TechConnect

Darden Alumni Career Panel in DC

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

  • 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.
  • Advancement

    Samantha Hartog, Deputy Vice President for Advancement: hartogs@darden.virginia.edu.

    • 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.
  • Alumni Career Services

    Jen Coleman, Executive Director of the Armstrong Center for Alumni Career Services: colemanje@darden.virginia.edu, +1- 434-924-3029

  • Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

    Omar Garriott, Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: garriotto@darden.virginia.edu, +1-434-924-4812

  • 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.
  • Career Development Center

    Jeff McNish, Senior 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
  • Case Lead Submissions

    Submit case leads to be catalogued and considered by faculty for future use. 

  • 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.
  • 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)
  • 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.
  • 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.