Meet Virginia Darden’s MBA Class Of 2025

P&Q: Two years ago, P&Q asked you to share how you’ve integrated AI, STEM, analytics, and digital disruption into your programming. Since then, what types of enhancements have you made in these areas?

Clarke: “AI has been at the forefront of thinking for some time, but it really seems to have been thrust into the spotlight within the past year with the advent of so many generative AI tools. Truthfully, we are all figuring out how to best make use of these technologies in a helpful and ethical manner. We know this technology is here and will have major implications for how we live and work.

We recently had a graduate give a record-breaking gift to the school, with a significant portion earmarked for a future research center or initiative on AI and machine learning. He sees Darden as uniquely positioned to help students and future leaders learn to manage the intersection of AI technology and human interests.

Darden Dean Scott Beardsley is actually on sabbatical at Oxford University through January 1, studying the ethics of artificial intelligence.”

P&Q: How many courses outside the business school can MBAs take during your program? To what extent has your business school embraced coursework from other schools and departments at your university? Are students from other schools and departments at the university allowed to take MBA electives?

Clarke: “Darden leaders and students definitely feel as though we are part of the broader UVA community, and collaboration and connection are always increasing. Students can take up to six credits at the graduate level outside of Darden that will count toward a degree. They may choose to take others beyond the minimum degree requirements.

Pending availability in the class, students from other schools may be able to take courses at Darden. Darden students get to bid first and then any openings are offered to other grad students.

One of the clearest means of collaborations are our many combined, or dual degree, programs. Darden has 11 dual degree programs, in which Full-Time MBA students complete their Darden MBA and a graduate program with UVA (or in one case, the School of Advanced International Students at Johns Hopkins). The MBA/M.Ed. with the UVA School of Education is quite popular, as many Darden students see education as a field in which they can make real impact.

The MBA/MSDS with the UVA School of Data Science is a relatively new addition to our offerings, and we annually have at least a few students who pursue dual degrees with the UVA Law School to become attorneys and UVA School of Medicine to become doctors, among various other career paths.”

P&Q: What is your biggest student-run event of the year and what does it reflect about your school?

Clarke: “Probably the Darden Cup, which is a series of extracurricular events taking place throughout the year, with Darden’s five sections competing against each other in good-natured competition that manages to be both light-hearted and intense. The students love it, and it’s become very inclusive over the years, so that if you aren’t interested in soccer or basketball, maybe you excel at cricket or trivia or a talent competition. Darden can be intense, especially for First Years, and the Darden Cup is just one of the many ways to balance the intensity with a lot of fun. Many faculty members often come out to compete, which adds to the camaraderie.”

5 REASONS TO CONSIDER VIRGINIA DARDEN

1) Entrepreneurship: “I’m excited to participate at The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology at Darden… The Batten Institute presents a dynamic platform where I can refine my entrepreneurial skills and gain business acumen to take my current (or possibly a new) venture to new heights. Engaging with mentors, faculty, and fellow students through the Institute will undoubtedly equip me with the insights and strategies to overcome the challenges that arise during the scaling process.”
Brianna Huff (’25)

2) Case Method: “The case method puts students in a unique learning environment every single day. It requires students to be more than just passive learners – it encourages thoughtful contributions and demands active participation. Students get repetitive practice thinking critically, grappling with uncertainty, communicating clearly, and listening thoughtfully. These are some of the key skills that make effective leaders.”
Betsy Brandon (’25)

3) Great Faculty: “I’ve always loved teaching. I’ve seen how a teacher who views quality teaching as the most important element of their job can have a tremendous impact on students. I applied to Darden in 2020 as part of their Future Year Scholars program and at the time The Princeton Review had just ranked Darden’s professor’s #1 for the 3rd year in a row. I want to know that my professors are showing up each day as excited to teach as I am to learn, so this was easily in my top 3 reasons Darden rose to the top of my list.”
Jeremy Halversen (’25)

4) Darden Worldwide Courses: “I have always had a passion for traveling and getting to know other cultures. That’s why the opportunity to learn for a few weeks in countries like Iceland, Japan, Germany, and others truly excites me. The best part is that every full-time MBA student at Darden is granted a scholarship to cover the program fees, courtesy of The Batten Foundation.”
Lieneke Ratto Schol (’25)

“I wish I had gone on a Darden Worldwide Course (DWC) after my first year. DWC is a tremendous opportunity to learn with your classmates outside of Charlottesville. The experiences my classmates had and the reverence with which they discuss their trips to Morocco, Italy, and many more make me regret missing this awesome opportunity. My advice: every Darden student should do a DWC.”
Ryan Spencer (’23)

5) Community: “I chose Darden because of its strong community. Because Charlottesville is smaller than many business school cities, students are very plugged-in to the MBA community. Moreover, UVA and Darden are built on traditions that create a strong culture, from the annual Lighting of the Lawn at UVA to Darden’s first-year sections, which each have their own colors, mascots, and cheers and compete against each other in the Darden Cup. For me, the Darden community just felt like home.”

Megan Huntsinger (’23)

“The UVA environment – location, coffee chat between classes, learning team experience – makes me immerse in relationships more. As an international student who wants to get a job and work in the U.S., it is important to make closer relationships with students. UVA is not located in a big city. That makes us focus on socializing with each other well. Coffee chat helps too. Our Learning Team for preparing each case for each class makes us get closer to each other too. This whole environment is so attractive to me. That is why I am here.”
Jessi Kim (’25)

ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS

“Trust the Application Process: Throughout the application journey, you’re likely to experience a range of emotions, from optimism to frustration. It’s important to remember that the application process is designed to assess your fit for the program and vice versa. Trust that the admissions team at Darden is looking for candidates who can contribute to and benefit from the community. While there might be moments of uncertainty, stay committed to presenting your authentic self and showcasing your enthusiasm for learning and growth.”
Brianna Huff (’25)

“Until I showed up for opening week, I really didn’t appreciate how committed the Darden admissions team is to creating a dramatically diverse class, whether that’s by country of origin, employment history, career aspirations, hobbies, or family situations. It’s a truly unique and amazing group to be a part of.

Regarding applying, we all have a natural tendency to gravitate towards and spend time with people who are like us in one way or another. Being around people like yourself can give you the impression that you aren’t as unique as you “need to be” for a program like Darden. That’s a lie we sometimes tell ourselves. There is only one of you in the world. The challenge isn’t being unique enough, the challenge is communicating what made you the unique person you are. So my advice is to get yourself pumped up for the opportunity to share the best version of your personal story with the admissions committee. At the end of the day, they are real humans who believe you have something to offer and they want to know if you believe that too.”
Jeremy Halversen (’25)
Tyler Kelley (’23)

“Many people tell me that my edge comes from my ability to tell my story vulnerably and authentically. My story is one filled with trauma and loss but also strength and encouragement. When I wrote my Darden essays, I reminded myself of the power of my story. So when I wrote, I shared snippets of short stories, writing in a conversational way that made the reader want to know more. I shared highlights from my life – the wins and accomplishments – and the tougher times, highlighting how I’ve overcome them with the support of a fantastic “village” (family and friends). I was human. I embraced that, and I think that spoke to the heads AND hearts of the admissions team.”
Tyler Kelley (’23)

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Betsy Brandon	Littleton ,CO	University of Virginia	University of Virginia
Sarah Doss	Richmond, VA	University of Virginia	Blue Heron Capital
Jeremy Halversen	Renton, WA	Brigham Young University	McKinsey & Company
Brianna Huff	Camp Lejeune, NC	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Social Marketing Influence LLC
Jeongyeon Kim (Jessi)	Seoul, South Korea	Yonsei University	CJ ENM
Jade Kimpson	Detroit, MI	Spelman College	Inhale Detroit
Nicolas (Nico) Martinez	Sacramento, CA	Brigham Young University	Deloitte Consulting
Kelly Okun	Bristol, CT	College of William & Mary	Buffalo Groupe
Lohit Kabbathi Natesh	Hassan, India	The National Institute of Engineering	Tata Digital
Lieneke Ratto Schol	Lima, Peru	University of Lima	Nestlé Peru