About the Batten Institute

Batten Institute - About - People

People

Batten Team

The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology team of professionals collaborates with colleagues at Darden, throughout the University of Virginia and around the world to ensure excellence across our many programs and initiatives. Our team is available to advise students on how to optimize their paths at Darden in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. 

Omar Garriott

Omar Garriott

Executive Director

Carlos Bortoni

Carlos Bortoni (MBA/M.Ed. '19)

Senior Director of the Tech Hub

Jason Brewster

Jason Brewster

Director of Venture Programs

Becky Duff

Rebecca Duff

Director of Thought Leadership

Maggie Dodson

Maggie Dodson

Program Manager

Anya Eisenfrats

Anya Eisenfrats

Program Manager

Anna Fife

Anna Payne Fife (MBA '14)

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives

Gosia Glinska

Gosia Glinska

Associate Director of Thought Leadership

Megan McGee

Megan McGee (MBA '21)

Director of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA)

Sarah Rhodes Program Manager

Sarah Rhodes

Program Manager, Tech Hub

Jim Zuffoletti

Jim Zuffoletti (MBA '05)

Entrepreneurship Community Director and Adjunct Instructor, "Venture Velocity"

The Batten Institute team is additionally supported by the Centers of Excellence Support Staff.

Academic Directors

The Batten Institute's academic directors are experts in their respective fields, and work closely with the Institute's leadership to develop cutting-edge programs and thought leadership.

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Saras D. Sarasvathy

Paul M. Hammaker Professor in Business Administration, Academic Director, Batten Institute, Jamuna Raghavan Chair Professor in Entrepreneurship, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

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Rory McDonald

John Tyler Associate Professor of Business Administration

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Sankaran Venkataraman

MasterCard Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research