UVA Darden School Class of 2015 Announces Class Gift, Graduation Speakers and Faculty Marshals

As graduation approaches for the Class of 2015, its members announced their class gift to the University of Virginia Darden School of Business: a record-breaking $289,747 for the Darden Annual Fund, given in honor of the School’s eighth dean, Robert F. Bruner, who will return to the faculty at the end of July after a decade-long, transformational tenure as dean. About 98 percent of the Class of 2015 — which includes three formats of the MBA — participated. Highlights of the campaign include:

• The resident MBA class raised a record $192,227, with 97 percent participation. The class also exceeded its goal to grow the number of Darden Society members. The Darden Society is a giving society that recognizes leadership gifts at $1000 or above for the four most recent classes.
• The MBA for Executives (EMBA) Class of 2015 raised $67,520 and 100 percent participation.
• The Global MBA for Executives (GEMBA) cohort achieved 100 percent pledge participation and the highest total dollar amount raised in the history of its format, at $30,000. In addition, an impressive 76 percent of the class made pledges at the Darden Society level.

“Dean Bruner, you have made such an important impact on Darden,” said Heidi Davies, president of the Darden Student Association. “We pledge to carry forward your attitude of excellence, collaboration and advancement.”

At a special First Coffee celebration, the class gifts were announced as well as the results of the election of graduation student speakers and faculty marshals.

On Sunday, 17 May, the faculty marshals will lead the graduates in their procession down UVA’s historic Lawn during the University of Virginia Final Exercises, which begin at 10 a.m., followed by the Darden graduation ceremony at 1:15 p.m. in Flagler Court on the Darden School Grounds.

The Class of 2015 elected as faculty marshals for graduation:

• Mary Margaret Frank, associate professor of business administration and academic director of Darden’s Institute for Business in Society
• Bidhan L. Parmar, assistant professor of business administration

As honorary marshals, the class named:

• Andrea Larson, associate professor emeritus of business administration
• William W. Sihler, Ronald Edward Trzcinski Professor of Business Administration

In addition, Dean Bruner has been invited to speak this year at UVA Final Exercises. He will address 10 schools and the Data Science Institute on 17 May. He will also speak at the Darden ceremony. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will deliver the keynote speech to graduates of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences on 16 May.

The Class of 2015 also announced its elected class speakers, one from each of the three formats of the MBA:

• Resident MBA: Martin Erzinger
• MBA for Executives: Brian DiBella
• Global MBA for Executives: Julien Menager