When the world’s toughest challenges meet the innovative spirit of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, bold ideas shape business and society. Faculty address pressing questions head-on, such as how enterprises prioritize all stakeholders and what makes for adequate ethics guardrails, and the university delivers insights that drive transformative change.
Research is not confined to labs or locked away in academic journals. Laura Morgan Roberts, Frank M. Sands Associate Professor of Business Administration and an expert in leadership and organizational behavior, says, “People often think of research as something that happens in a lab, tucked away, and that’s not how we engage in thought leadership.”
Ideas With Impact
For business leaders like Connie Hallquist (MBA 1991), president of Garnet Hill and a member of the Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees, the university’s approach stands out from other schools of thought. “It’s not theoretical, it’s not obtuse. It’s not something you can just read in a book and absorb. These are practical, real-life examples of what is happening in the business world.”
This hands-on, solutions-focused mindset defines Darden’s research ethos. Shane Dikolli, Bank of America Professor of Business Administration and an expert in executive compensation and managerial performance evaluation, states, “Most research begins with a conceptual idea based on something observed in practice.” The faculty untangles complex concepts to reveal “elegant simplicity” through rigorous analysis and solutions that work in the real world.
Collaboration as the Center
Collaboration is not only encouraged at Darden; it is an essential part of its fabric. Faculty from diverse disciplines collaborate in classes, co-author cases, and exchange ideas in a culture of open dialogue. Doug Thomas, Henry E. McWane Professor of Business Administration and an expert in technology and operations management, states, “The collaboration across faculty in all disciplines is not like anything I’ve ever seen. Our offices are intermingled. We co-teach and write cases together, which helps build the general management mindset of the school.”
The School’s collaboration extends beyond the classroom. The faculty engages with business leaders, policymakers, and global organizations to ensure their research drives meaningful change. Carl Peoples (MBA 1994), managing director at Goldman Sachs and a Darden School Foundation Board of Trustees member, underscores the impact by saying, “I think the Darden idea is to wrestle expertly with tough topics. They’ve done the work, they’ve wrestled with the problem, and they’ve identified and delivered solutions in the real marketplace.”
Darden’s success is driven by the generosity of those who believe in the power of ideas and change. By supporting “Faculty Forward,” you help advance research, elevate teaching, and shape the future of business education.
Darden utilizes innovative research, offers unparalleled teaching with a collaborative spirit, and invites the world on the journey. As Robers puts it: “We are inviting everybody into the process of critical inquiry, and that shapes a new level of discovery.”
Learn More at drdn.mba/faculty. To discuss giving opportunities, please contact Samantha Hartog, Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement, at +1-434-982-2151 or [email protected].
