Inside UVA

A rare “Triple Hoo,” Robert Hardie earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1987, followed by an M.B.A. in 1995 and a Ph.D. in Management in 1999 from UVA's Darden School of Business. As he prepares to conclude his term as rector on July 1, 2025, he joins us to reflect on his time at UVA — as a student, a board member, and rector.

Students in the class of 2025, Desiree Ho and Karly Scholz spent the last four years at UVA becoming stronger advocates for democracy. The two join us today to discuss how they have sought to make the most of their time at the university, their work with the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and their plans for the future.

Melissa Stark has worked in broadcasting for over 25 years and is the sideline reporter for Sunday Night Football. Working as a reporter, journalist, and correspondent, Melissa has covered sporting events ranging from football to the Olympic Games. She joins us today to discuss her work, and how she was able to build a career as a woman in sports broadcasting.

Meg Jay, PhD, is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. She is the author of multiple books including The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age, and The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter. She joins us today to discuss her work, her own early adulthood, and how we can better understand this pivotal age.

Since 2001, Gregory Fairchild has taught strategic management, entrepreneurship, and ethics in Darden's MBA and Executive Education programs. He has received several awards for teaching excellence at the Darden School and serves as the Dean and CEO of UVA Northern Virginia. He joins us today to talk about his leadership in expanding UVA's presence in Northern Virginia and to celebrate the grand opening of UVA Northern Virginia.

Amor Towles is a celebrated novelist, known for Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway. His latest work, Table for Two, is a collection of short stories and a novella. Amor's journey from studying literature at Yale and Stanford to two decades in finance to becoming a best-selling author illustrates, among other things, the lifelong pursuit of learning and creativity that we celebrate here at UVA. He is also Inside UVA's first guest from outside the university.

Will Shortz is the editor of the New York Times Crossword and NPR's Puzzle Master. He sold his first puzzle at the age of 14, earned a degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles, and later came to UVA to study law. Will Shortz has served as the editor of the New York Times crossword and NPR's Puzzle Master for over 30 years, and has become a prolific name in the world of puzzles.

Ben Allen is the executive director of the UVA Equity Center. A Charlottesville native, a quadruple Hoo, a former teacher and assistant principal, a former officer in the Army National Guard, and a current member of the Army Reserves, Ben's story is deeply connected to both the Charlottesville community and the university. In his role at the Equity Center, he's working to bridge the gap between UVA and the local community, ensuring that the university is not only a great place to learn but also a good neighbor.

Dr. Rachel Wahl is an associate professor in UVA's School of Education and Human Development, where she focuses on fostering meaningful dialogue across political and social divides. As part of the Social Foundations Program in the Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, and director of the Good Life Political Project at the Karsh Institute of Democracy, Rachel engages students in constructive political conversations. In this episode, she shares insights on the power of dialogue and its role in bridging differences.

UVA Alum Chris Long was a star player on the UVA football team, earning all American honors and serving as captain. He went on to the NFL, where he played for 11 years on three teams, and won back to back Super Bowl championships for two different teams. Chris was recognized in 2018 as a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and his jersey number 91 has retired from the Virginia Cavaliers football program. Since his retirement from the NFL, Chris has led a busy life as a father, husband, media analyst, philanthropist and podcast host. Through the Chris Long Foundation, he has advanced initiatives to provide clean drinking water, and promote education, equity and access for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Chris is also the host of the Green Light podcast, where he shares insightful NFL analysis and engages in entertaining and informative conversations with a wide range of guests.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Lillian Rojas, the now-graduated Student Member of UVA's Board of Visitors. Lillian recently received her BA in Public Policy at the Batten School, served for 3 years on the Student Council, and mentored students in the Latino Peer Mentor Program.  In this episode, they discuss her path to UVA, balancing leadership and schoolwork, and the responsibility that come with representing students on the BOV. This episode of Inside UVA was originally recorded on the week of April 29th, 2024.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Kenyon Bonner, UVA's Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer. Bonner joined UVA this January after nearly two decades in Student Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, including most recently as the Vice Provost for Student Affairs. They discuss his path to Student Affairs, the lessons he's learned in working closely with students over the decades, and his mission to help students of all backgrounds find a sense of belonging at the University. Plus, his love for music production and whether he'll bring "Riding in Cars with Kenyon" over to UVA.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Dean Risa Goluboff, the twelfth and first female Dean of the University of Virginia School of Law. Dean Goluboff is a renowned legal historian whose scholarship focuses on the historical development of American constitutional and civil rights law; she's been teaching at UVA for more than twenty years, with additional faculty appointments at the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies, the Department of History and the Miller Center for Public Affairs. She's a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the American Law Institute, and chair of the advisory board for UVA's Karsh Institute of Democracy. In this episode, they discuss Dean Goluboff's journey to UVA and the remarkable changes to the Law School under her tenure. They also discuss her favorite parts of being Dean and what lies ahead after she steps down at the end of the semester.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Dr. Wendy Horton, the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Virginia Medical Center. Dr. Horton stewarded UVA's response to the coronavirus pandemic, helped craft the Health System's 10-year Strategic Plan, and has been named to Modern Healthcare's list of top 25 women leaders in health care. In this episode, they discuss the difficult work of coordinating the University's response to a worldwide pandemic, the day-to-day of running an entire medical center, and the challenges that lie ahead for health care broadly.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Alexandra Walsh, a UVA swimmer who has broken NCAA, American, and US Open records; she also won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 200m individual medley. They discuss Alex's upbringing, her daily routine on the UVA swimming team, and what's next in her career: from the NCAA Swimming Championship to professional athletics and beyond.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Carolyn Cullen, UVA HR's Director of Talent Management. She oversees workforce and succession planning, professional development, and career navigation--and she also leads the UVA Cornerstone Program, a leadership development program that brings together employees from UVA's many departments to build relationships, develop careers, and solve complex problems across the University system.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Professor William Wylie, an internationally-renowned photographer whose work can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and more. They discuss his early passion for rock climbing, his path through academia, and the unique nature of photography as an art form--especially Professor Wylie's philosophy of on "making" a photograph rather than taking it.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Danielle Citron, a legal scholar, MacArthur Fellowship recipient, and expert in privacy law. Among other things, she's the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Schenck Distinguished Professor at the UVA's School of Law, director of UVA Law Tech Center, and vice president of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. They discuss Professor Citron's work in the space of protecting our online privacy--which goes beyond targeted advertisement into data points that can alter the course of our careers, our insurance premiums, and the very basics of our privacy. Her latest book, The Fight for Privacy: Protecting Dignity, Identity and Love in the Digital Age, is a call for the protection of intimate privacy as a human and civil right that must be defined and defended in the law. They also talk about deep fake technology and the danger of the "Liar's Dividend" -- the dangerous downstream effects of false videos on society, business, and our personal lives.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Dr. John Lukens, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at UVA. Dr. Lukens is an expert in neuroimmunology--his lab explores the immune pathways responsible for inflammation in the brain. The more we understand how these pathways work, the more we can target them with drugs and treatment regimens, potentially combatting neurological disorders earlier and more effectively. Dr. Lukens also discusses his philosophy of mentorship: lessons learns from his own advisors, highlighting individual student strengths and shoring up weaknesses, and celebrating spirit days both for fun and for important milestones.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Andres Pedroso, UVA's Director of Tennis and Head Men's Tennis Coach. Coach Pedroso is a former pro tennis player, two-time National Tennis Coach of the Year and three time ACC Coach of the Year--and he led UVA's Tennis team to back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. They discuss his early dedication to the sport, the rigors of the professional athletics, and the importance of trust, humility, and community in coaching a team of players to success--both on and off the tennis court.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Dean Cedric Rucker, veteran of Admissions and Student Affairs at both UVA and the University of Mary Washington. Dean Rucker describes his early life under segregation in Virginia, his time as the first Black male student on campus housing at Mary Washington, and his 40-year career in Admissions and Student Affairs, first recruiting students and then building trust with the student body. After Dean Rucker's retirement from UMW--which named the University Center in his honor--he was asked by President Ryan to become as Interim Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at UVA, where he now serves and lives on the Lawn.

This week, President Ryan sits down with Dr. Bruce Greyson, a Professor of Psychiatric Medicine and former Director of UVA's Division of Perceptual Studies. Dr. Greyson is an expert on near-death experiences--the unusual experiences reported by patients who come close to death or are pronounced dead, which include enhanced thinking, strong emotions, paranormal experiences, and visions of another realm. Dr. Greyson describes his history documenting near-death experiences, the questions they raise in neuroscience and philosophy, and his latest book: "After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal about Life and Beyond."

Welcome to another season of Inside UVA! This week, President Ryan sits down with Malcolm Brogdon--an NBA player for the Portland Trail Blazers, Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association, an activist and philanthropist, as well as a Double Hoo. Malcolm discusses his time playing for UVA Basketball under Tony Bennett, his decision to finish his Master's before joining the NBA, lessons learned from his mother, and his work advocating for clean water and racial justice.

Tim Longo has been UVA's Chief of Police and Associate Vice President for Safety and Security since 2019, and he served as Charlottesville's police chief for fifteen years before that. In this episode, he and President Ryan discuss his long history in law enforcement, his duty to UVA students and parents, and what he thinks police need to do to rebuild trust in local communities. They also discuss the process for sending Community Alerts, including the rationale for sharing and withholding certain information. This episode was recorded in two parts: the first in November 2022, a few days before the tragic shooting that resulted in the deaths of UVA students Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis Jr. The second part was recorded in May 2023, and includes a discussion of the shooting, the community aftermath, and the law enforcement response in subsequent months.

Madison Morey is the libero and team captain for UVA Women's Volleyball. In this episode, she discusses her rise to the role of captain, the importance of discipline and communication in the student-athlete life, and her growth-focused mindset for dealing with failure and overcoming adversity.

Eventually, most of us will find ourselves caring for a loved one as they reach the end of their life. This is an experience nurse Jonathan Bartels has spent his career helping patients and families navigate. Building on his experience in palliative care, in the ICU, the ER, and studying comparative religion and mysticism, he worked to implement a practice known as "The Pause" at UVA Hospital. The Pause is essentially a moment of silent reflection for the care team and the family after a patient passes away. The goal of The Pause is to help all those involved process the patient's death and appreciate their life with the goal of promoting resiliency and healing. In this episode, Nurse Bartels discusses his long career in nursing, compassionate care, and his new hot sauce company.

Ava MacBlane is the editor in chief of the Cavalier daily, an independent student run news organization. She previously served as managing editor for the Cavalier Daily's one hundred and thirty-third team, as well as the news editor and News Senior Associate Editor. She's also a member of the University Guide Service and a dedicated thespian. In this episode she and President Ryan chat about student journalism at UVA.

Dan Willingham is a cognitive psychologist whose research focuses on the intersection of learning, memory, and education. As an applied researcher, he focuses on communicating psychological principles to educators, using science to help teachers understand student minds and teach more effectively. His latest book, "Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy" focuses on optimizing the learning process—using strategies that encourage retention and understanding while avoiding procrastination and burnout.

In this special episode of Inside UVA, we're sharing a conversation with an extremely distinguished UVA alumnus! Subscribe to Hoos in STEM: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hoos-in-stem/id1671045329 https://open.spotify.com/show/0gjo3bwE5z1xsLIBHKS3f8 https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9waW5lY2FzdC5jb20vZmVlZC9ob29zLWluLXN0ZW0 https://www.stitcher.com/show/1057004 https://www.pandora.com/podcast/hoos-in-stem/PC:1001057004 https://virginiaaudio.org/#/hoos-in-stem/ Once in a blue moon, a scientist comes along who revolutionizes the state of our world. Today's guest, UVA alum Dr. Francis Collins, is one such scientist. After conducting research that isolated the genes that cause disorders like Huntington's disease and cystic fibrosis, Dr. Collins went on to lead one of the most audacious projects in the history of science: the Human Genome Project. He also served as the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the Science Advisor to the President. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Collins about his career, as well as his strong beliefs that science and faith come hand-in-hand — and he gives us a surprise musical performance!

Dr. Christopher Holstege wears a lot of hats around the university. A toxicologist by training, he recently worked with UVA students and the local master naturalists to develop a guide to the poisonous flora and fauna in the Charlottesville area. He's also put this knowledge work, navigating the wilderness, as an avid trail runner. As director of Student Health and Wellness, he's interested in novel ideas that promote student well-being. And as a research physician, he and his team are frequently studying and publishing their research on the efficacy of their programs. Listeners should know that this episode also discusses mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health challenge, there are a lot of resources available. UVA students can get in touch with Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, online at: https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/CAPS UVA staff and faculty also have access to free mental health resources including counseling through the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program better known as FEAP. https://uvafeap.com Charlottesville area community members can also seek mental heath care at: https://regionten.org https://thewomensinitiative.org https://www.cvillefreeclinic.org Suicide & Crisis Hotline Call 988 or Text 988 LGBT National Hotline 1-888-843-4564 Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860 National Alliance of Mental Illness HelpLine 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Dr. Stephanie Rowley joined the School of Education and Human Development as Dean in 2022. She is an alumna of the Education school and leading expert in the development of children's racial and gender identities. She returned to UVA to serve as dean following her time as a Provost, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Teachers College at Columbia University. In this episode she talks about her research, how she met her husband at UVA, and some surprising family ties to Charlottesville.

Dean Tab Enoch is sometimes known as the university's unoffocial hype girl. As the director of Orientation, she is one of the first people many new students meet at UVA. She and her team work hard to help every new student at feel excited and supported for their time at the University. In this episode, she and President Ryan share how their own experiences as first-generation college students have shaped their careers in student affairs.

UVA Law Professor Leslie Kendrick is a podcasting pro. She's spent many hours behind the mic with Dean Risa Goluboff exploring how law shapes society in their podcast, Common Law. In this episode, she talks about the ways in which her years studying English literature led her to become a free speech expert, her upbringing in Kentucky and her time serving as Vice-Dean of the UVA School of Law.

Our first guest of the season truly needs no introduction. She is a journalist, who, among other assignments, has been co-host of the Today Show, anchored the CBS Evening News and was a correspondent for 60 Minutes. She's a producer, a path breaker, an author, a performer, a guest star on episodes of Glee, Sesame Street, Austin Powers and Murphy Brown. She is a parent, wife, entrepreneur, genuine icon, and daughter of the University of Virginia, the inimitable Katie Couric.

A 2016 Vogue magazine headline called our guest the "George Clooney of March Madness". He is a former NCAA and NBA sharpshooter, coaching legend, and national champion. If you haven't guessed yet, it's UVA's Head Basketball Coach, Tony Bennett. In this interview he talks about his very early start in basketball and going into the family business of coaching. We also get some snacking tips.

Ian Baucom has led a very eventful life. He grew up in South Africa, left a burgeoning acting career for military school in South Carolina, and even wrote a children's fantasy novel! These unique experiences eventually led him to UVA, where he served as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for over 7 years, and recently became the Provost of the University. In this episode, you can hear Baucom discuss his unusual upbringing and share what he wants to accomplish in his new role at the University.

Dr. Ken Ono says his greatest strength is his curiosity. That curiosity has taken him to the 100 year-old manuscripts of Srinivasa Ramanujan, to the US Olympic swimming team, to astronomical queries into black holes and even to Hollywood. Tune in to hear more about those adventures and why Dr. Ono says theoretical math is an art form.

Abel Liu wasn't planning on getting involved in Student Council when he started at UVA. But when he got here, he was excited about student self-governance and the opportunity to make a difference for his peers. Then COVID hit and he got that opportunity. Even before Abel was elected president, he was involved in lobbying for a credit/no credit option for students during the height of the pandemic in Charlottesville. Abel now serves as UVA's first ever Chinese-American Student Council President and the first University Student Council President in America to be transgender at the time of their election. In this interview, he talks about why he choose to make a cross-country move for college and some of his proudest accomplishments from his four years on Student Council.

Carla Williams says college athletics is the reason she was able to go to college. In high school, she was a star basketball player and her teachers helped her go to basketball camps and travel to play in front of college scouts. Once she made it to the University of Georgia she excelled on and off the court, eventually earning her doctorate and building her career in coaching and then athletic administration. When she was appointed as Director of Athletics at UVA in 2017, she became the first Black woman to be Athletic Director of a Power Five Conference.

Kayvon Samadani is a fourth year at UVA studying Public Policy and Environmental Science. He is also currently the president of the Inter-Fraternity Council at UVA, an organization that oversees the activities of 1,700 students across 32 chapters. In this epsiode he talks about his experience at UVA and how he got involved in Greek life and Greek leadership. 

Dr. Bill Petri came to UVA for Medical School and never left! In his over 30 years here, he's authored over 400 publications and worked with dozens of undergraduate and medical students in his research lab. In the past couple years, he's also been a resource to the community, communicating important information and research related to COVID-19. In this episode he talks about why he loves working with student researchers and some of his favorite running spots in the Charlottesville area.

It might be the height of basketball season but the varsity athletes aren't the only ones practicing, working out and competing. UVA has over 60 club sports and intramural competitions, not to mention group fitness classes and four gyms open to students, faculty, staff and community members. It's all run by the department of IM-Rec. This week we talk to the Director of IM-Rec Sports, Erica Perkins about all the health and wellness opportunities available to the UVA community.  Learn More: https://recsports.virginia.edu/index

Dr. Craig Kent was never supposed to go into medicine. He grew up helping his dad run a ranch in Nevada that had been in his family since the 1880s. Eventually, he got his family's blessing to become a vascular surgeon and he's spent his career dividing his time between patient care, research, and hospital administration. He currently serves as the CEO of UVA Health.

Lauren Kim (COL '22) has a lot of responsibility for an undergraduate student. She runs The University Judiciary Committee or "UJC" in UVA speak. The UJC is an entirely student-run judiciary body which is responsible for upholding the University's Standards of Conduct. In this episode, she talks about how the UJC operates, how it differs from the Honor Committee, and how she choose her unusual double major combination of Global Security and Justice and Medieval Studies. You can also follow her mac-and cheese review account on instagram @leakednoods.

Dr. Rita Dove is one of the most acclaimed contemporary American poets. But every week a few dozen UVA students get to sit down in the classroom with her to read, write and discuss poetry. Charlottesville and UVA are honored to host Professor Dove and in this episode she discusses her early literary influences, from MAD Magazine to Shakespeare, the assignment her students live in fear of, and her experience serving as Poet Laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. Her latest book of poetry is Playlist for the Apocalypse.

Professor Ken Elzinga has perhaps taught more UVA students than any other faculty member. Every fall he teaches Econ 201 to nearly a thousand students, making his class the largest one at the university. He is known by his students not only for his engaging lectures but also for his commitment to their personal and intellectual development. In this conversation he talks about participating in Supreme Court cases, his faith, and some of his favorite vintage cars.

Colette Sheehy started as a Budget Analyst at UVA in 1982. These days she has a large portfolio of responsibilities that range from parking to working with the Virginia General Assembly. President Ryan asks her about her long career at the university and what it takes to manage the operations of a university during a period of immense growth.

Natalia Wilson's (COL '02) father told her she was his immigration lawyer at age three. It took her a few more years to get officially licensed, but these days she's a Principal at at a family law firm in Washington, DC. President Ryan sat down with Natalia Wilson to get her perspective as an alumna on the University and the impact it's has on her life and career.

The Honor Committee is one of UVA's most cherished and controversial institutions. The current Honor Committee Chair, Andy Chambers, says he knew he wanted to be a part of it from the first time he visited UVA. In this episode of Inside UVA, Andy Chambers and President Ryan talk about changes to the Honor System, student self-governance and what it means to live, work, and study in a community of trust. You might even learn a little bit about building your own guitar...

Even if you don't know what the Chief Operating Officer does, if you live, work or study at UVA, you've almost certainly gotten an email from Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis. She's the one who lets us know when there's a snow day or a test to the emergency system, and this past year she's sent us a lot of updates about COVID-19. Tune in to hear about how UVA upended its operations to ensure safety during COVID-19 and get to know the person behind the emails.

A lot has changed at UVA since Mr. Whitt Clement finished his undergraduate degree in 1970. And he's been around to witness and take part in that change, first as a Law Student, then serving on the Alumni Association Board, the Parent's Committee, and now on the Board of Visitors as Rector. In this episode of Inside UVA he shares stories from across his time at UVA and explains what the word "Rector" means.