UVA Darden Principal Donors Society Welcomes Six New Members, Elevates Four to Higher Levels

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business recently celebrated a significant expansion of its esteemed Principal Donors Society with the induction of six new members and the elevation of four existing members to higher levels of recognition.

The Principal Donors Society is the pinnacle of philanthropic recognition at Darden, honoring those who have generously contributed $1 million or more to the School. The society is segmented into various levels based on the size of contributions, starting with the Colonnade Level at $1 million, followed by the Rotunda Level at $2.5 million, Monroe Level at $5 million, Madison Level at $10 million, and culminating with the Jefferson Level at $25 million and above.

To this year’s honorees, Frank M. Sands (MBA ’94), chair of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, said: “Your commitment is more than financial; it’s a testament to the shared belief in Darden’s power to effect meaningful change in the world. This belief inspires our students and alumni, reinforcing their confidence in the School’s values and vision.”

Contributions from members of the Principal Donors Society have been instrumental in Darden reaching the first milestone of its Powered by Purpose campaign—achieving more than $500 million in total impact. This fall, Darden launched Faculty Forward, the second milestone of the campaign, further supporting and enhancing its world-class professors.

New Members at Colonnade Level:

Stacy H. Bolduc (MBA ’90) & John P. Bolduc (MBA ’90): John Bolduc is the executive managing director at H.I.G. Capital. He also serves on the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees. Stacy Bolduc serves on the board of Friendship Circle, a nonprofit helping families of children with special needs. The Bolducs support Darden in various ways, including through the Darden Society, the Hickory Club and their recently established Bolduc Family Endowment for Excellence.

Susan J. Chaplinsky: Chaplinsky was the Tipton R. Snavely Professor of Business Administration at Darden. Her legacy includes an estate gift to establish a full-tuition scholarship for women at Darden. She is the first tenured Darden faculty member in the Principal Donor Society. Chaplinsky passed away on 28 November 2022.

John O. Downing (MBA ’82) & Frances vS Downing: John Downing was most recently vice chairman and a board member of Brown Advisory. The Downings are members of the Darden Society and Hickory Club. Their support for Darden includes the John O. (MBA ’82) & Frances Downing Scholarship, a merit scholarship in the AccessDarden program for students with demonstrated need across Darden’s three MBA formats.

Franklin S. Edmonds Jr. (MBA ’95) & Pamela F. Edmonds: Frank Edmonds is a partner at Covey Hill. He is a member of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees. The Edmonds are members of Darden’s Cornerstone Society, Darden Society and Hickory Club and have supported the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management and The Forum Hotel.

Lilo Simmons Ukrop (MBA ’89) & R. Scott Ukrop (MBA ’89): Lilo Ukrop is a visiting lecturer at Darden, teaching the Colley Reading Seminars in Management founded by Professor John Colley. She is a member of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees and the Powered by Purpose Campaign Cabinet. Scott Ukrop is a managing director at NRV and holds board positions with several of their portfolio companies. The Ukrops have supported Darden in various ways, including the Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning and the Darden School Foundation’s Women’s Scholarship Fund.

John G. Lert Jr. (MBA ’73) & Devin A. Lert (MBA ’21): John Lert, founding partner of Alert Venture Fund, has over 50 years of experience in disruptive technology, impacting media, retail and robotics. Devin Lert, managing director at Alert Venture Fund, has a decade in program and product leadership. The Lerts co-founded the Lert Scholarship for Innovators and Entrepreneurs Fund and contributed to the Darden School Foundation’s Women’s Scholarship Fund.

Members Elevated to New Levels

James A. Cooper (MBA ’84) & Stacy Cooper have ascended to the Madison Level. Jim Cooper is the founder and senior managing partner at Thompson Street Capital Partners. He has served on the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees for 12 years, serving as board chair and chair of Milestone I of Darden’s Powered by Purpose campaign. He recently won the Charles C. Abbott Award, the highest accolade bestowed upon a Darden graduate. The Coopers are the Cornerstone Society, Darden Society and Hickory Club members. Their substantial support for Darden includes establishing the James A. and Stacy Cooper Bicentennial Professorship, Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning, James A. Cooper Family Fellowship and the James A. Cooper Family Fund for Asset Management, among other significant contributions.

Robert W. Smith (MBA ’87) & Teresa Smith have ascended to the Rotunda Level. Bob Smith is the former vice president at T. Rowe Price. He is a member of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees. The Smiths are Cornerstone Society, Darden Society and Hickory Club members. They established the Smith Family Jefferson Fellowship for Darden and UVA School of Education students. Their support extends to the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management, Darden scholarships, the Robert F. Bruner Fund for Transformational Learning and The Forum Hotel.

Allan W. Staats (MBA ’62) & Barbara G. Staats have ascended to the Rotunda Level. Allan Staats devoted more than 30 years to Exxon International, focusing on global finance and sales. He passed on 7 January 2020. The Staats are members of the Cornerstone Society, Darden Society and Hickory Club. Their contributions to Darden include student scholarships.

The Melville Foundation has ascended to the Rotunda Level. The foundation has generously funded Jefferson Fellowships to attract exemplary students to Darden. It also named the L’Orangerie at The Forum Hotel, a space inspired by the iconic L’Orangerie in the Four Seasons in Paris. This naturally lit, glass-enclosed solarium adjacent to Birch & Boom epitomizes the donors’ passion for nature.