Business Schools’ MBA GateKeepers

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

No one grows up dreaming of being a college admissions director. Much less an assistant director. But if anyone was made for this type of career it was Associate Director of MBA admissions at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, Katharine Alford. Her guiding light for the past five years in the admissions office has been to connect students wanting to grow and make a positive impact on the world with a school wanting to help them realize those goals.

Alford’s path was not as roundabout as some admissions people. She started her career in a private wealth management setting but soon decided to pursue her passion to help college students figure out what to do—a noble, albeit seemingly impossible task. Some people at the sunset of their careers don’t actually know what they really want to do.

But when Alford left her home as an 18-year-old for an out-of-state university, she felt she didn’t receive enough support at the school. She wanted to offer that support to other young women. So Alford decided to pursue a master’s degree in student affairs from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

The degree led Alford to advising high school students for college admissions in UVA’s undergraduate admissions office. She spent her free time volunteering at the local Boys and Girls Club. Still, she felt that something was missing from her pursuit to land in a position that matched her desire to connect students with their interests and passions.

“College was just the next step for a lot of the students I was working with,” says Alford. “It was their main reason for going to college—just because they should.”

When an opportunity came to work with mature and driven MBA applicants in early 2009 Alford jumped at the offer. Now she is in constant communication with inspiring applicants who want to make a lasting impact in the world.

“I feel like I am on top of a hill,” Alford says. “Business students put a lot of thought into going to and choosing a graduate school. They have had positions to learn about themselves and goals. It is our job to help them push those goals and passions to the next level.”

Outside of school, Alford mentors a group of undergraduate women by having them to her home for dinner once a week called the Supper Club. She is involved with community organizations to support women in positions of leadership and business. Alford also enjoys hosting Darden MBA students and alums for dinners.

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY OWEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

“I wish I had known about this career from the beginning.”

Those are the words of Christie St. John, MBA admissions director at Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Business,  But that doesn’t take anything away from her career before admitting students to Owen. She did move to France to teach English and then decided to move to Monte Carlo, Monaco to work in crude oil trading. And then in marketing for a company that built luxury hotels in France. St. John wasn’t exactly roughing it.

When she was ready to come back to the states she decided to settle back home in Nashville. While studying for a PhD in French, she was recruited to work in international recruiting for the full-time MBA program at Owen. After a 10-year stint at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, St. John was recruited back home for a director’s position at Owen.

“When I got here I thought it was the best job in the whole world and I still think that,” says St. John. “I get to work in a fabulous academic environment and get to learn about interesting new people.”

St. John has a deep affinity for the lives of other people. Almost to the point of annoyance for an interviewer as every question somehow gets answered by talking about another person. She also has a deep passion to help foster a welcoming, open and successful environment at Owen. And that is largely influenced by the students admitted.

“We admit students who are respectful of others, open-minded and curious,” says St. John. “They want to know about other cultures and are willing to share their cultures and what excites them. All of our students do share those characteristics and are very ambitious and smart people.”

With the students, St. John continually praised her staff. Saying they wouldn’t be the school they are without a very healthy and collaborative staff.

“There is a team effort all over the entire school,” says St. John. “We learn from each other and work together. We love to recognize and praise our staff. The faculty gets a lot of the credit but the staff makes the school run and should get some as well.”

Outside of work, St. John is often found with her two dogs, Sam and Chai. She also has a great passion for veterans, which is reflected in Owens efforts to recruit and admit former military personnel.