The University of Virginia is grateful for the more than 5,000 dedicated alumni, families, and friends who generously give their time, talent, and voice to support and advance the mission and vision of the University. From mentoring students, hosting events, serving on boards, lecturing in classrooms, and advocating for our institution, their commitment strengthens our community and creates positive change.
This summer, UVA will launch a new website dedicated to providing opportunities for new volunteers to get involved and celebrate the impact current volunteers are making across the Grounds.
Today, we invite you to read the stories below to learn what inspires our alumni, friends, and parents to give back and how they are cultivating a vibrant community through their leadership.
“As a first-generation student, attending UVA rapidly expanded my growth, and it allowed me to dream and prepare for what I could become one day. It also solidified my understanding of the sacrifices that had been made by both my parents and me, and the weight of the generational change that was about to take place. I volunteer because I am a testament, along with my 4th-year daughter, that education at UVA changes lives and creates opportunity.”
Ty Smith (Col ’94, Parent ’26), College of Arts & Sciences Atlanta Regional Board co-chair, Reunions Volunteer
“Supporting UVA and its students continues to show me how impactful even small contributions can be. I was shaped by the mentorship and support I received as a student, and now as an alum, volunteering with Virginia Alumni Mentoring allows me to pay that forward. Staying connected with classmates, supporting current students, and strengthening the community remind me why the University remains such a meaningful part of my life.”
Alexandra Broughton (Col ’24), Virginia Alumni Mentoring volunteer
"UVA gave me the opportunity to learn, grow, and push myself in ways that shaped who I am today. What made that possible was the strength of this community and the connections within it. Giving back, whether it’s mentoring a student, spending time with faculty, serving on the board, or supporting new initiatives, feels like a natural way to return that gift."
Dr. Diem Nguyen (Col ’94, Med ’00, Dar ’01), Darden Foundation Board, former Darden Corporate Advisory Board, College Compass, and Reunion Volunteer
"As a member of the UVA Alumni Association Young Alumni Council (YAC), I volunteer alongside 35 peers representing the twelve most recent UVA undergraduate classes. As part of my council duties, I'm blessed to work with Alumni Interest Group leaders to elevate underrepresented voices and serve alumni from all backgrounds. If you're a recent undergraduate alum from one of the past twelve classes, we invite you to bring your talents to YAC too."
Alex Wilson (COMM '13, ENG '20), Alumni Association Young Alumni Council member, Reunions Volunteer
How one phone call changed this student’s career perspective
Third-year student Ayat Boumahdi is a career peer educator at the UVA Career Center. But when it came to her own future, she turned to alumni through Virginia Alumni Mentoring for guidance.
Ayat Boumahdi (Batten '27) heard her University of Virginia classmates talking about Goldman Sachs internships and pre-law timelines, and she had one thought: “What am I supposed to be doing with my time right now?...”
Finding Harmony in Leadership: A Conversation With Cynthia Soledad (MBA ’02)
Cynthia Soledad is chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
Cynthia Soledad (MBA ’02) knows a thing or two about finding harmony — on stage and in the boardroom. She serves as chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, drawing on a career that spans household names Procter & Gamble and Whirlpool...
Alumni Profiles: William Chichester (Col '05) & Patrick Payne (Col ’97)
William Chichester and Patrick Payne don’t shy away from the tough conversations about hiring.
In this spotlight, they cut through the hype around AI to share what’s actually changing, what’s staying the same, and why relationships still matter more than ever in today’s job market...
John D. Fowler’s ‘Transformational’ Darden Experience Motivates a Life of Giving Back
John D. Fowler Jr.’s involvement with the Darden School community extends across decades. That partnership continues as he begins a term as chair of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees.
With over 40 years of affiliation with the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, it’s more than fair to describe John D. Fowler Jr. (MBA/JD ’84) as an ambassador for the institution...
‘Learn, Collaborate, Innovate’: Inaugural UVA Health Leadership Institute Landin Family Nursing Summit
The Landins are UVA alumni: attorney David (Col '68, Law '72), UVA Health Foundation Board Vice Chair, and nurse Susan (Nurs '78) who worked at UVA Health, served as past President of the UVA School of Nursing Alumni Association, and is a UVA Health Foundation Board Emeritus Trustee and a UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center Advisory Board Member.
The first UVA Health Leadership Institute (HLI) Landin Family Nursing Summit, held at Newcomb Hall Ballroom on Grounds, brought together about 60 nursing leaders from all four UVA Health medical centers — University, Culpeper, Haymarket, and Prince William — and from UVA School of Nursing, thanks to the generosity of the Susan and David Landin UVA Health Leadership Institute Nursing Endowment Fund...
GET INVOLVED
Learn about the many volunteer opportunities available at UVA.
Don’t see a volunteer opportunity that meets your interest or skill set?
Having trouble determining the appropriate person or area to contact for your volunteer interest?
SHARE YOUR STORY
Help us celebrate all the good our Wahoos do!
We invite you to share your story of how and why you are called to serve the University of Virginia through volunteering.
