Pillars | Spring 2023

PILLARS

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF

INNOVATION

How The LaCross Family’s $44 Million Gift Is Revolutionizing Business Education

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | ISSUE 29 | SPRING 2023

Progress Toward Purpose

RECORD-BREAKING

GIFTS, MILESTONES AND A TIME OF TRANSITION

I’m thrilled to share the exciting progress we are making at the Darden School this spring. As always, your generosity and dedication drive our success, and I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead.

Let me begin with some truly groundbreaking news: the recent $44 million gift from David (MBA ’78) and Kathleen LaCross (opposite page). This tremendous philanthropy is already transforming the School profoundly, from advancing artificial intelligence research to exploring new residential housing and planting a botanical garden on the Darden Grounds. I’m awed by the generosity and foresight of the LaCross family and humbled by their gift’s impact.

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology, I’m reminded of the vision and courage of Frank Batten Sr. in making his transformative gift to Darden (page 12). The Batten Institute has been a cornerstone of the School’s success, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, driving economic growth, and fostering community engagement. We’re proud to carry the Batten family’s legacy and build on Frank’s vision for a brighter future.

In that spirit, I’m excited to announce the launch of the Robert F. Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning (page 6) and the Susan J. Chaplinsky Fund for Faculty Excellence in Private Capital Markets (page 7). These funds will enable us to continue to support our talented faculty and provide our students with the best possible educational experience. I’m also pleased to recognize the ongoing support of our Darden School Foundation scholarship donors (pages 9–11). Your generosity helps us build a more diverse and equitable community at Darden, and we are grateful for your partnership and commitment.

Finally, I want to acknowledge that this is a time of transition for the Darden School Foundation as we search for a new president. I’m excited to work with our talented faculty and staff to continue to build on our successes and advance our mission of excellence, innovation and community engagement during this period of change.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Darden.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88)

John Alden Purinton Jr. Professor of Practice Senior Adviser to the Dean Interim President of the Darden School Foundation

Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88)

LACROSS FAMILY’S $44M GIFT ENHANCING DARDEN STUDENT EXPERIENCE, GROUNDS

In October, the Darden School announced the third-largest gift in its 67-year history. A $44 million investment from Risk Management Technology founder David M. LaCross (MBA ’78) and his wife Kathleen O. LaCross will strengthen the School and lay the foundation for its future in several ways. With $6 million in matching funds from the University of Virginia, the total impact of the gift to Darden is $50 million.

“My desire to give back starts with my strong belief in the power of the case method to develop and inspire responsible leaders who will improve the world,” said David LaCross. “I recognized well before graduating that I owed a tremendous debt to Darden for its effective use of the case method, an extraordinary faculty that knew how to get the most out of a class and my classmates. I hoped from the outset that I would be in a position to give something back someday.”

The gift will support three priorities of Darden’s Powered by Purpose campaign: faculty excellence and thought leadership, student experience, and Grounds and infrastructure.

“I’m so grateful to Dave and Kathy LaCross for their extraordinary generosity in supporting the Darden School, now and for generations to come,” UVA President Jim Ryan said. “With these visionary investments, Dave and Kathy strengthen faculty research, leadership, the student experience and critical facilities at Darden. They are terrific partners not only to Dean Beardsley and to Darden, but also the University as a whole, and I deeply appreciate their thoughtful approach to giving back.”

I recognized well before graduating that I owed a tremendous debt to Darden for its effective use of the case method, an extraordinary faculty that knew how to get the most out of a class and my classmates. I hoped from the outset that I would be in a position to give something back someday.”

— David LaCross (MBA ’78)

Kathleen and David (MBA ’78) LaCross

The overall investment, including the LaCross gift and University matching funds, includes:

• A $6.5 million bequest toward a future Darden research center or initiative on artificial intelligence.

• $18 million in current funding to endow and name the dean’s chair at Darden, comprising a $12 million gift from the LaCross family, plus $6 million in matching funds from the UVA Bicentennial Professors Fund.

• A $20.5 million lead gift and seed funding for the construction of quality on-Grounds residential housing at Darden to support its master plan.

• $5 million to name the botanical gardens at Darden.

“On behalf of the Darden community — including the students and faculty who will benefit from this investment — I am grateful to Dave and Kathy LaCross for their leadership, vision and generosity,” Darden Dean Scott Beardsley said. “Thanks to their gift, Darden will continue to focus on delivering the world’s best educational experience through student-centered learning, the case method, high student engagement, talented staff, a supportive community, the world’s best teaching faculty and rigorous research that creates new, practitioner-focused knowledge.”

BLAZING TRAILS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ETHICS

The LaCross investment will help Darden establish

momentum toward a future research center or initiative on managing artificial intelligence and ethics — an emerging challenge and opportunity for business and society. This effort will build on Darden’s existing collaborations with the School of Data Science and work with Darden’s Institute for Business in Society and the Olsson Center for Applied Ethics. It will also help Darden contribute to UVA’s ambitious Grand Challenge Research Initiatives — of which “digital technology and society” is one of the five focus areas. Efforts such as these are designed to expand and complement the University’s current research portfolio.

Research centers and initiatives at Darden build a community of experts to advance knowledge, offer student experiences and convene forums with academics and executives to advance business practice. This new effort will help anchor Darden’s position as the leading business school in the ethics and finance space.

ENSURING STRONG FUTURE, VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

The LaCross investment will establish and name the dean’s chair with matching funds from UVA’s Bicentennial Professors Fund. Endowing this prominent leadership position honors the School’s tradition of visionary leadership — from Darden’s founding dean, Charles Abbott, to its current dean, Scott Beardsley. By design, this endowment will free funding at the School to bolster investments in faculty excellence. To honor and fulfill the hoped-for impact of the LaCross family, the School intends such investments to include case writing on

A rendering of the botanical gardens located next to The Forum Hotel.

artificial intelligence; supporting key master plan items to encourage faculty and student collaboration, as well as related faculty and dean’s office enhancements; and teaching excellence.

MAKING UVA DARDEN GROUNDS A DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT

The construction of planned on-Grounds residential housing will further enhance Darden’s strong education experience, which The Economist recently rated as the best in the U.S. among full-time MBA programs for the 10th straight year. Revenue-generating investments in Darden’s infrastructure — like student housing and The Forum Hotel — will provide new, sustainable financial support for student and faculty excellence at the School.

“Our hope is that this residential housing gift will not only improve Darden’s educational experience by providing quality on-Grounds residential housing, but also become a financial asset to support outstanding students’ financial need overall and to attract talented future women leaders in particular via scholarships,” Kathleen LaCross said.

The LaCross gift will also name the botanical gardens — a featured set of thematic green spaces intertwined with the arboretum and The Forum Hotel on the Darden Grounds — surrounding the potential residential housing project and providing connectivity to the Rivanna Trail. The six-acre botanical gardens will serve UVA as an educational space and feature an outdoor classroom, pond, bridge and more than 5,000 trees and shrubs — including many cultivars found at Monticello. The botanical gardens also honor the vision of Thomas Jefferson, who was working on a different botanical garden design of about the same size at UVA near Alderman Library when he died.

This space will energize North Grounds and create greater connectivity between the School of Law, the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, and Darden — while serving as a place where students, faculty, staff and community members meet.

“Dave and Kathy LaCross are incredible leaders, who are very generous in supporting the mission of the School,” said Martina Hund-Mejean (MBA ’88), chair of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, on which David currently serves. “Clearly, Dave is honoring his passion for the Darden experience.”

David and Kathleen LaCross are both alumni of the University. David earned a bachelor’s degree in quantitative methods in 1974 and an MBA from Darden in 1978. Kathleen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Arts & Sciences in 1976, majoring

in psychology. They have two children, Kristin and Michael.

David began his career at BankAmerica Corp., now known as Bank of America. He remained at Bank of America for 10 years and rose to senior vice president by 1989. He left Bank of America to found his own company, Risk Management Technology, which Fair Isaac Companies acquired in 1997.

David LaCross (MBA ’78) explains the impact of his gift.

The campaign empowers Darden to nurture the outstanding faculty of the future and develop insights for leaders facing real-world business challenges.

HONORING A LEGACY OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING: THE BRUNER FUND TAKES FLIGHT

The Darden School has announced the launch of the Robert F. Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning. The fund, named in honor of Dean Emeritus Bob Bruner, will support the development of the next generation of faculty and the creation of innovative teaching materials at Darden.

Bruner, who is set to retire this spring from the Darden faculty after 41 years of teaching and leadership, is widely respected for his teaching expertise and his authorship of business cases. During his deanship from 2005–2015, he worked to solidify Darden’s position as one of the top graduate business schools in the world.

“Bob Bruner’s passion for Socratic teaching and commitment to delivering a life-changing learning experience are at the core of what sets the Darden School apart,” said Dean Scott Beardsley. “With the launch of the Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning, we have the opportunity to ensure that his legacy continues to shape the lives of future generations of students.”

The Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning will provide crucial resources to support the world’s best faculty in developing the next generation of teachers and creating innovative teaching materials

Born in Chicago, Illinois, raised in Racine, Wisconsin

Graduated with a BA from Yale University

Promoted to full professor

Served as eighth dean of Darden

Received an MBA from Harvard University

I entered academic life because I love to teach and write.”

Robert F. Bruner University Professor, Distinguished Professor

of Business Administration and Dean

Emeritus

BOB BRUNER CAREER TIMELINE

that lay the foundation for a world-class education. Examples include helping faculty create their own field-based cases, simulations and other materials to bring the creative learning process to life.

“Adaptability is the key to survival in a world of relentless change,” said Bruner. “As a teacher, I have always sought to inspire my students to see the world in a new light and prepare for the challenges ahead. With your support of the Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning, we can ensure that the Darden School continues to provide students with a transformative education and prepare the next generation of leaders for a rapidly changing world.”

For more information on the Robert F. Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning, please contact Carter Hoerr, senior advisor and campaign director, at HoerrC@darden.virginia.edu 1982

2015

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF SUSAN CHAPLINSKY

Offering tribute to a dear friend, colleague and mentor, the Darden School is establishing the Susan J. Chaplinsky Fund for Faculty Excellence in Private Capital Markets. The fund will serve as a lasting remembrance of Chaplinsky, an inspiring and dedicated educator who devoted her life to igniting the potential in students.

In January, colleagues and friends gathered in Darden’s South Lounge to pay homage and celebrate Chaplinsky’s life. During a frequently emotional ceremony, they shared their personal and professional experiences of her impact on their lives.

“She was that complete person that we want at Darden — not only a great teacher but a great researcher, a great case writer and a great servant leader,” said Dean Scott Beardsley.

Felicia Marston, a faculty member at the McIntire School of Commerce, praised Chaplinsky’s unwavering commitment to instruction and learning, saying, “Professionally, I’ve never met anyone more dedicated to education … I’ve thought of her every single day before I’ve entered the classroom this term.”

The Susan J. Chaplinsky Fund for Faculty Excellence in Private Capital Markets will support Darden’s faculty members as they pursue their research and teaching goals in private capital markets. This fund will provide the necessary resources for ongoing education and professional development, enabling faculty members to impart their knowledge and wisdom to students and the community at large.

Chaplinsky’s impact will live on through this fund, which will continue to inspire and support future leaders in private capital markets.

“She inspired perfection through her own dedication, perseverance, leadership and humor,” said Professor Elena Loutskina. “When people like [Chaplinsky] cross your path, don’t take these people for granted … I wish you all change as many people’s lives as she did.”

To learn more about the Susan J. Chaplinsky Fund for Faculty Excellence in Private Capital Markets, please contact Whitney H. Wilson, senior director of advancement, at WilsonW@darden.virginia.edu.

With the launch of the Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning, we have the opportunity to ensure that his legacy continues to shape the lives of future generations of students.”

— Dean Scott Beardsley

Named University

Professor and Dean Emeritus

Retirement from Darden

Earned his DBA from Harvard Univeristy and joined Darden the same year as an assistant professor

MATOS APPOINTED TO ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP THANKS TO GIFT FROM GRATEFUL ALUMNUS

Darden School Professor Pedro Matos already holds the John G. Macfarlane Family Chair in Business Administration as the academic director of the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management. However, Matos received the additional honor of a permanent endowed professorship in December when the University of Virginia Board of Visitors approved his election as the James A. and Stacy Cooper Bicentennial Professor of Business Administration.

At Darden since 2011, Matos is an expert in asset management, investments, corporate governance and international finance. He is a research associate at the European Corporate Governance Institute. Before Darden, Matos served as an

economist for the Portuguese Ministry of Finance and a consultant for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and taught at the University of Southern California.

This newly endowed professorship results from an investment in the Darden School from James A. (MBA ’84) and Stacy Cooper, who took advantage of UVA’s Bicentennial Professors Fund — a University fund-matching program to boost funding for faculty support.

Active in private equity for 25 years, Jim Cooper founded Thompson Street Capital Partners in 2000 and is the firm’s senior managing partner. He is chair of Darden’s Powered by Purpose campaign, a member of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees and a member of the Principal Donor Society, which recognizes those who support Darden at the highest level of lifetime giving.

Stacy Cooper earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982 and currently volunteers in her community. She previously served as trustee and an executive board-at-large member of the City Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, a private elementary school offering full scholarship support.

“Darden was built on the shoulders of its faculty,” said Jim Cooper. “And faculty remain Darden’s most valuable asset. Rising stars like Pedro are so important for powering the next generation of leaders and ideas that move business practice forward. Stacy and I are proud of all that Pedro has accomplished and cannot wait to see what he does next for Darden, his students and the world.”

To learn more about establishing an endowed professorship, please contact Samantha Hartog, interim vice president for advancement, at HartogS@darden.virginia.edu.

Rising stars like Pedro are so important for powering the next generation of leaders and ideas that move business practice forward.”

— Jim Cooper (MBA ’84)

Read the latest business knowledge from faculty experts like Professor Matos in Darden Ideas to Action.

Pedro Matos is an expert in asset management, investments, corporate governance and international finance.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Campaign support creates scholarships and an unmatched student experience that sparks a virtuous circle in which top student talent draws top faculty, top rankings and top resources.

DARDEN CELEBRATES GROWTH, IMPACT OF SCHOLARSHIPS

In the fall, the Darden School gathered to introduce and welcome the latest cohort of Breakthrough Scholars and Impact Fellows — whose ranks have swelled to 55 students in these programs’ second year.

This pair of Darden School Foundation merit-based scholarship programs ensure those with the greatest potential from all backgrounds choose Darden and foster a lasting culture of inclusive excellence at the School. Both programs provide recipients with carefully tailored mentorship and leadership development programming involving Darden alumni, faculty, fellow students and staff.

The Breakthrough Scholars program is a competitive scholarship initiative designed to foster a new generation of diverse leadership in private equity, venture capital and other areas of asset management. The Darden School Foundation recognizes students who demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with the potential to break through in these sectors traditionally not associated with diversity and inclusion and where new leadership would be especially important and impactful.

“[You have to be] very heavily networked in order to get into careers in this space — and the path to landing jobs and opportunities is not always as clear as investment banking and consulting,” said Sukari Brown, a Breakthrough Scholar in the Class of 2023. “And so, what the program does is not only help with just career development and support but also connections to alums who are in private equity or venture capital to help bridge that gap on that network side.”

The Impact Fellows program focuses on those traditionally underrepresented in top business schools and the ranks of senior management, especially women and people of color. While attracting top students to Darden is a critical component of the program, specialized programming ensures that fellows reach their full potential at Darden and after graduation.

“The biggest thing Impact Fellows has done for me is, number one, it’s access to an alumni mentor — and these are usually people who are well-tenured in their careers — to challenge my thinking,” said Darrell Pacheco, an Impact Fellow in the Class of 2023.

To support or become involved with these scholarship programs, please contact Stephanie Brady, assistant vice president for scholarships, at BradyS@darden.virginia.edu.

A group of Breakthrough Scholars and Impact Fellows

A special First Coffee was held introducing this year’s Breakthrough Scholars and Impact Fellows.

SCHOLARSHIPS

SCHOLARSHIP

In the fall, the Darden School celebrated Taiwo Abiodun (Class of 2023) and Dr. Syed Shehab (Class of 2024) as the Lemuel E. Lewis Bicentennial Award for Global Leadership winners. The award is the brainchild of Lem Lewis (MBA ’72), a longtime and influential presence in the Darden community. Among his bona fides, Lewis is a member of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, a past member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, among the School’s Principal Donors and a mentor to countless students, faculty and staff members.

The scholarship supports two students who demonstrate, promote and foster a global perspective and deep understanding of other beliefs and cultures — including the religious,

political, economic and social context in which they exist.

“This award is another validation that my work and my interests have merit,” Shebab said. “This is also proof that the institution is putting diversity and inclusivity into practice.”

The Lewis Award is unique among competitive scholarships at Darden in that a selection committee of fellow students determines its recipients.

“It is humbling to have my peers recognize me in this way,” Shehab said. “Through this platform, I want to challenge my peers to think about what it truly means to be an inclusive community. I want to challenge my peers to engage in difficult and courageous conversations both inside and outside of the classroom.”

Abiodun, who plans to work as an investment banker at Evercore’s New York office after spring graduation, offered a similar perspective. As president of the student-run Darden Finance Club, Abiodun expressed pride in building a more inclusive culture by encouraging board membership that is representative of the incredible diversity of Darden’s student body.

“For Darden, there has to be more action in terms of ensuring that students who have been admitted from diverse backgrounds feel included in the community one hundred percent,” said Abiodun, noting the positive platform this award has given him to encourage further change at the School.

To establish an endowed scholarship, please contact Stephanie Brady, assistant vice president for scholarships, at BradyS@darden.virginia.edu.

HELPS STUDENTS BRIDGE DIFFERENCE, FORM STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT

From left: Taiwo Abiodun (Class of 2023), Lem Lewis (MBA ’72) and Dr. Syed Shehab (Class of 2024)

Professor Martin Davidson speaks about the Lemuel E. Lewis Bicentennial Award for Global Leadership.

Watch Lem Lewis (MBA ’72) share his journey from scholarship recipient to donor.

WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE MATCH PROGRAM — URGENT CALL TO ACTION

In April 2022, the Darden School Foundation launched the Women’s Scholarship Challenge Match Program to raise $5 million in immediate impact funding for women. The challenge was initiated in response to the increased competition for top female students among peer schools, the strong economy and aspirations to reach enrollment parity among men and women at top business schools. However, Darden faces challenges in yielding top female students and needs your help. To date, $4 million has been secured for the Women’s Scholarship Challenge, with $1 million remaining to reach the goal. We urgently need new commitments of $10,000 or more for women’s scholarships, which will be matched 1:1 until the matching funds are depleted.

Scholarships are a critical strategic priority for the success of the School, and we must significantly increase our scholarship funding to sustain a diverse and academically strong student body. The Women’s Scholarship Challenge Match Program provides a powerful tool for recruiting women to Darden, and your support can make a real difference.

A gift of $150,000 provides funding for a full-tuition scholarship for two years and unlocks the matching funds to support a second student with a full-tuition scholarship. A $500,000 gift supports three full-tuition scholarships for two years or five partial-tuition scholarships, which is doubled thanks to the match.

Your support for the Women’s Scholarship Challenge Match Program can help us attract more female applicants to all formats of the Darden MBA and support their development as leaders while at Darden and after graduation. It also helps to promote a broader initiative, Women@Darden 2.0, which focuses on building connections and lasting relationships between Darden Admissions, students, faculty and alumnae.

To support the women’s scholarship challenge and unlock matching funds, please contact Stephanie Brady at BradyS@darden.virginia.edu.

Watch Sukari Brown (Class of 2023) explain how donating to scholarships helps alumni leave a legacy.

Above: Attendees at a recent Women@Darden event in Charlottesville. Below: clockwise from top left, Lilo Ukrop (MBA ’89), Natalia Alvarez Diaz (MBA ’22), Sukari Brown (Class of 2023) and Professor Yael Grushka-Cockayne

Darden Honors Batten Family on 30th Anniversary of Transformative Gift

The Darden School recently hosted a celebration on the 30th anniversary of Frank Batten Sr.’s transformative gift that created the Batten Center, now known as the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology, and looked ahead to additional transformation on the Darden Grounds in the near future.

In 1991, Frank Batten Sr., on behalf of the Batten Foundation, committed $2.5 million in a matching pledge to establish a center (formed in 1993) for entrepreneurial leadership at Darden. In 1999, he made a gift of $60 million that transformed the Batten Center into the Batten Institute, which seeks to challenge every Darden student to fulfill their entrepreneurial potential through transformational learning experiences and groundbreaking research and to spur innovation and technology at Darden. At the time, it was the largest gift to the Darden School, the largest gift to the University of Virginia and the largest gift to any business school in the world.

Darden Dean Scott Beardsley opened the event by welcoming Jane and Dorothy Batten (MBA ’90), Frank Batten Sr.’s wife and daughter, respectively, and acknowledging Frank Batten Jr. (MBA ’84), though he was unable to join the event. “Jane, Dorothy and Frank Jr. have done much to honor and further Frank Sr.’s legacy and to create their own impact on the University of Virginia and the Darden School,” he said. Beardsley also praised the faculty who built the Batten Institute’s reputation.

For 30 years, the Batten Institute has been instrumental in shaping Darden and UVA through its work in innovation, venture capital, technology and leadership, and

The campaign allows Darden’s Grounds to set the standard for world-class business education and reflect the School’s values, interests and purpose.

A rendering of the Batten Global Innovation Nexus.

Frank Batten Sr.

by playing a significant role in bolstering Darden’s capabilities in these areas. The Batten family has been key to Darden’s success in countless areas, including attracting outstanding students via the Batten Scholars and Batten Media Fellows programs; securing and retaining the best faculty; supporting budding entrepreneurs through initiatives like the i.Lab Incubator; supporting thought leadership; providing opportunities for every Darden MBA student to have a global learning experience via the Batten Foundation Darden Worldwide Scholarship program; collaborating with other UVA schools; and distinguishing Darden among its peers in a multitude of areas.

Beardsley concluded the celebration by announcing the upcoming Batten Global Innovation Nexus, which will place the Batten Institute at the heart of Darden’s academic buildings in Charlottesville and create vibrant entrepreneurial and technology-forward spaces available to the entire Darden and UVA community.

The central corridor of Darden is envisioned to be enlarged and reimagined in the Darden master plan developed by Robert A.M. Stern, the architectural firm that designed the original buildings on the Darden Grounds. The central spaces, extending from the PepsiCo Forum on two levels, will connect with the Classroom Building and the Abbott Center, and serve as the central nexus for student success, academic innovation, entrepreneurship and technology at Darden. The new spaces will connect areas of Darden and provide students with easy access to student-centered services, Darden Media, the recently relocated iLab, and spaces for collaboration, learning and dining. The collection of updated spaces over three floors comprising the “Batten Global Innovation Nexus” will physically and intellectually bring the School and the Batten Institute’s mission together and make all of the Darden Grounds more accessible.

“In these spaces,” said Beardsley, “the pioneering spirit of Frank Batten Sr. will live on.”

DARDEN OFFERS EXCLUSIVE NAMING RIGHTS THROUGH ‘GROUNDS FOR SUCCESS’

The Darden School is launching “Grounds for Success,” an exciting new fundraising initiative to support faculty and student excellence while providing donors with unique naming opportunities.

As Darden continues to provide a world-class business education, the “Grounds for Success” initiative aims to raise crucial funds for unrestricted faculty and student excellence. Donors can reserve unnamed spaces across the Darden Grounds — such as buildings, gardens, plazas, lounges, classrooms and offices.

Although Darden is still working on inventorying spaces, many marquee opportunities are already available in The Forum Hotel and the surrounding six-acre arboretum and botanical gardens. The benefits to donors are numerous, including leaving a lasting legacy at Darden, receiving exclusive naming recognition, and supporting faculty and student excellence. The ROI of the “Grounds for Success” initiative is substantial, with flexible funds providing support where it is needed most.

All naming and giving levels are subject to UVA approval. Interested individuals can contact Interim Vice President for Advancement Samantha Hartog at HartogS@darden.virginia.edu.

Naming Opportunities Available

For additional opportunities and giving amounts, please visit the “Darden Grounds Master Plan, Technology & Innovation” section of the Powered by Purpose campaign website at giving.darden.virginia.edu

In these spaces, the pioneering spirit of Frank Batten Sr. will live on.”

— Dean Scott Beardsley

From left to right: Dr. Neal Kassell, Jane Batten, Dean Scott Beardsley and Dorothy Batten (MBA ’90)

Darden Annual Fund Sponsors Clubs, Enhancing Student Experience

The uniquely close-knit and diverse student experience at the Darden School owes much to the many student-run organizations that host academic, career and social events throughout the year. Recently, however, these organizations have encountered financial challenges with the potential to limit their programming and student participation. Powered by generous alumni support, a new Darden Annual Fund initiative is sponsoring several organizations, reducing associated costs for students so they can focus on what they do best: community building.

Chief among these efforts, the Darden Annual Fund recently announced its sponsorship of the Darden Student Association (DSA). Alumni contributions are now offsetting rising costs

for hosting events that otherwise would have been passed along to students through substantially higher dues.

DSA President Tyler Kelley (Class of 2023) said that dues would have increased by 50 percent from last year to maintain the organization’s high level of student engagement. Instead, dues only rose 18 percent. This moderate increase helped a record 99 percent of Full-Time MBA students pay their DSA dues this year.

“The DSA is the heart of the School, the entity that helps maintain the many Darden traditions that connect the past and present,” Kelley said. “Given inflation and the changing nature of our economy, we would not be able to offer students the same experience without the support of our amazing alumni.”

More specifically, the DSA continues

to partner with clubs to host its regularly scheduled, family-friendly “Cold Calls” — social gatherings hosted most Thursdays after class. These partnerships ensure that School-wide student and community engagement is more accessible to clubs of all sizes, purposes and backgrounds. The DSA also works with other groups on its OneDarden series. Kelley said these events “celebrate the diverse cultures and perspectives within our community, bringing folks together from all backgrounds as one body in the name of Darden.”

The Darden Annual Fund is sponsoring more than the DSA, however. The annual fund is also partnering with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to review requests from other student clubs seeking funding.

“As students, we will have the opportunity to impact Darden beyond our time here as well, so the more we know and appreciate the efforts of the Darden Annual Fund, the greater the impact we can make in the future,” Kelley said.

Campaign support for the Darden Annual Fund enables the School to remain innovative, invest in top strategic priorities and respond nimbly to emerging opportunities.

2022–23 leaders of the Darden Student Association

LEAVING A MARK ON THE PLACE SHE LOVED: PROFESSOR CHAPLINSKY’S GIFT TO DARDEN

When Professor Susan Chaplinsky passed away in November, the Darden School lost one of its most admired and beloved educators. She left behind a legacy of inspiring her students to achieve their full potential — and a scholarship fund that would continue to do so for years to come.

In her will, Chaplinsky made a bequest to establish a full-tuition scholarship to Darden for women seeking a career in business. She knew the power of education in transforming lives and careers, and she believed in Darden’s mission to develop leaders who make a positive impact on the world.

“I know that nothing in this world would please Susan more than knowing that her students remembered her as a teacher who made a difference in their life,” said Kathy Arter, Chaplinsky’s sister, at a January memorial event.

Chaplinsky was a deeply committed teacher whose dedication to her students was widely recognized. She received awards and honors for her teaching and research throughout her career, and her popular courses covered various topics in finance. She was also an avid producer of teaching materials, ensuring her students had the best resources to succeed.

The Susan J. Chaplinsky Scholarship is a fitting legacy for a dear friend, colleague and mentor whose life’s work and passion was to help others grow and achieve their full potential. Those who knew Chaplinsky remember her as a complete person, dedicated to teaching, research, case writing and leadership. Her influence was felt in all aspects of the School and beyond.

“The Darden School has been the entity that has allowed me to achieve the peak of my professional success and been in large part the reason I was able to work effectively and substantially add to the wealth I have accumulated,” wrote Chaplinsky about her bequest.

If you are inspired by Chaplinsky’s story and want to contribute to the future of Darden, planned giving offers a powerful way to leave a lasting legacy. For more information on planned giving, please contact Mary Katherine Barbour, regional director of development, at BarbourM@darden.virginia.edu.

Below: Student leaders of Graduate Women in Business; Right: top, Darden Student Association Co-Presidents Mariah Horner and Tyler Kelley (Class of 2023). Right: bottom, Student leaders of the Darden One for the World club

P. O. Box 7726

Charlottesville, Virginia 22906-7726

USA

The Darden Campaign in Support of Honor the Future, the Campaign for the University of Virginia

Pillars is published by the Darden School Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the Darden School by promoting philanthropic support from alumni, friends and corporations; managing endowment funds for the School’s exclusive benefit; and operating Darden’s topranked Executive Education & Lifelong Learning program, The Forum Hotel and Abbott Center hospitality.

Questions, comments and address changes should be directed to: advancement@darden.virginia.edu or

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P.O. Box 7726

Charlottesville, Virginia 22906-7726 USA

Interim Vice President for Advancement:

Samantha Hartog

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer:

Juliet K. Daum (TEP ’22)

Editor David Buie-Moltz

Writers:

David Buie-Moltz, Molly Mitchell

Copy Editors:

Dave Hendrick, Molly Mitchell, Tom van der Voort

Design:

Susan Wormington

Photography:

Tom Cogill, Justin Ide, Ali Johnson, Sam Levitan, Andrew Shurtleff