UVA McIntire School of Commerce

The University of Virginia’s sports precinct has a new name.

Fans headed west on Massie Road from Emmett Street – as you approach John Paul Jones Arena and the Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center – might notice signage for the “Ramon W. Breeden Athletic Grounds.”

A dedicating ceremony was held last week in appreciation of the Breeden family, longtime supporters of the University. Ramon W. Breeden Jr., a 1956 graduate of the UVA McIntire School of Commerce, made a substantial gift toward the Virginia Athletics Master Plan in 2023.

“The Breedens’ generosity has allowed us to provide beautiful, modern facilities for our student-athletes, supporting not only their athletic goals, but their academic, career and leadership goals as well,” UVA President Scott Beardsley said.

“I know Ray is a big sports fan, like I am,” Beardsley continued, “and I have no doubt that his generosity will fuel many more UVA championships. Even more importantly, Ray knows what it takes to succeed, and he wants to see our student-athletes succeed and thrive in everything they do.”

UVA Director of Athletics Carla Williams and Barry Parkhill, a former Wahoo basketball star and longtime associate director of athletics for development for his alma mater, joined Beardsley at the dedication.

Each expressed their gratitude for the ceremony’s honoree.

“Thank you, Ray, for all that you have given to the University of Virginia and Virginia Athletics,” Beardsley said. “We are fortunate to have you and your family as part of our UVA community, and I look forward to cheering on the Hoos with you.” https://uvatoday.me/4ojNUS6

What happens when an entrepreneur combines grit with analytics?

For John Kyburz (MSBA '25), it meant turning a long-held food truck dream into a growing franchise. While balancing graduate school and business ownership, John applied lessons from UVA's M.S. in Business Analytics program in real time, using data, experimentation, and continuous improvement to support growth.

Because success isn't just about waiting for the right moment.

It's about learning, iterating, and moving forward.

From Dream to Diner John Kyburz (MSBA ’25) leveraged UVA’s M.S. in Business Analytics program to scale a childhood food truck dream into a franchise-ready diner brand.

Class of 2026: One of the most impressive parts of Elizabeth Cohen's story happened far away from any classroom.

At the stables past Barracks Road, she helped revive a dormant alumni network for the Virginia Riding Team by reconnecting former members across decades of history. The result was a major gala, critical fundraising support, and a stronger community for the students who will come after her.

At the same time, she was preparing for a career in consulting, studying abroad in Copenhagen, working with former McIntire Dean Carl Zeithaml on case writing projects, and preparing to join Bain full time in Austin.

Yet the thread connecting all of it feels surprisingly simple: investing deeply in people and communities wherever she goes.

That kind of impact tends to last much longer than a résumé line. Read more about Elizaeth at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/free-rein-commerce-confidence-reconnecting-virginias-riding-team-alumni/

Class of 2026: The final exam for one UVA business class wasn't a case study or presentation. It was standup comedy.

For Margo Kaye, that meant getting in front of her classmates and delivering a three-minute comedy set with no guarantee the room would laugh. What started as a daunting assignment ended up reflecting something much bigger about her college experience: learning how to communicate clearly, confidently, and authentically.

As an IT and Management concentrator, Margo spent her time translating technical ideas into language people could actually understand, whether in cybersecurity courses, at PwC in New York, or as a Teaching Assistant helping students untangle difficult material.

The comedy routine almost feels symbolic. The best communicators aren't just technically sharp. They know how to connect with people. Read more about Margo at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/expert-communicator-ready-next-act/.

Professor Stefano Grazioli's path to becoming one of UVA's most celebrated global educators began with his own experience studying abroad as a Fulbright Scholar.

He describes coming to the United States as "the most empowering and professionally formative episode" of his intellectual life — an experience that shaped how he now designs international learning opportunities for students at McIntire. That perspective is especially visible in his Argentina consulting immersion programs, where students move beyond observation and into real-world problem-solving with organizations across industries ranging from solar energy to banking and viticulture.

What makes his approach compelling is the balance between professional rigor and personal growth. Students learn how businesses adapt to hyperinflation, changing markets, and cultural differences while also building confidence, resilience, and global perspective.

Now, after more than a decade leading these experiences, Grazioli has been recognized with UVA's 2026 Excellence in Education Abroad Award.
The honor reflects something larger than one program. It highlights the growing importance of experiential global learning in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world.

Join us in congratulating Stefano for this incredible recognition! Read more at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/mcintire-professor-stefano-grazioli-earns-uva-excellence-in-education-abroad-award/.

One quote from Professor Ann Backof explains exactly why students connect with her teaching: "It's not just about what students learn in a course, but how they carry that forward into their future decisions and experiences."

Backof was recently recognized with a UVA All-University Teaching Award, one of the University's highest honors for instructional excellence. What makes her story interesting is that she teaches some of McIntire's most technically demanding Accounting courses, but students and colleagues consistently talk about the confidence they gained in her classroom, not just the content itself.

Join us in congratulating Ann on this remarkable achievement! Read more at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/mcintire-professor-ann-backof-receives-uva-all-university-teaching-award/

Class of 2026: Most athletes spend years chasing a pro contract, and Albin Gashi reached that milestone at just 17. But not long after, he made the unexpected decision to walk away.

What he encountered in professional soccer wasn't just a higher level of play. It was a version of the game shaped heavily by business, pressure, and uncertainty, and it shifted how he saw everything.

Choosing a different path led him to UVA, where he found something he didn't realize he was missing: balance, perspective, and a genuine joy for the game again.

His journey is a reminder that moving forward doesn't always look the way you expect, and sometimes the best decisions are the ones that take you in a new direction.

Read more about Albin's journey from pro to UVA at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/building-his-own-game-plan/.

Class of 2026: It's easy to talk about "global impact" in abstract terms. It's much harder to build a life and education around it. Diya Gupta did exactly that at UVA.

Her studies in Commerce, sustainability, and global development weren't pursued separately. They informed each other. Through research, leadership, and service work, she explored how business intersects with environmental systems, migration, and community well-being.

Now, as a recipient of the prestigious Lenox-Conyngham Scholarship, she'll continue that work at the University of Cambridge, with research focused on climate-induced migration in South Asia.

One detail from her story stands out most: She intentionally sought environments that would challenge her perspective. After moving from California to Charlottesville for college, she now sees Cambridge as another opportunity to grow through unfamiliarity and new ways of thinking.

Read more about Diya at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/diya-gupta-receives-2026-2027-lenox-conyngham-scholarship/.

Class of 2026: A winery in Argentina completely changed the way one student thinks about business. Mariel DiNatale traveled abroad expecting to work on a consulting project. What she didn't expect was how much she would learn simply by slowing down and listening.

Her client spoke little English, so her team had to rethink everything about how they communicated. Eventually, they closed their laptops and let him guide them through his family's winery instead.

That experience stuck with her because it revealed something bigger than strategy or analytics. Behind every business is a story, a family, and years of sacrifice that numbers alone can't capture.

Learn more about Mariel at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/she-combined-global-finance-foreign-affairs-with-local-leadership/,

Class of 2026: Distressed investing isn't just about numbers. It's about navigating uncertainty. That's part of what drew McIntire students Arjun Jagannathan, Zach Marshall, and Max Rudikoff to the field.

For Max, the appeal came from the mix of legal complexity, strategy, and creativity. For Arjun, it was the interdisciplinary nature of restructuring work, where finance, law, negotiation, and timing all intersect. For Zach, the challenge itself became the attraction. This year, that curiosity and preparation helped the team earn first place at Oaktree Capital's 2026 Future Leaders Program Credit Case Challenge in Los Angeles.

What makes their story compelling is that they consistently point back to learning, mentorship, and community rather than just the result itself. Faculty guidance, student organizations, and peer collaboration all played a major role in shaping their experience. The best business education often happens when technical rigor and strong relationships develop side by side. Read more at https://experience.mcintire.virginia.edu/news/class-26-mcintire-student-trio-wins-oaktree-future-leaders-program-credit-case-challenge/.