Alumni
Building Support for World-Class Research and Education
The Office of Advancement supports UVA Engineering's mission, vision and strategic priorities with alumni, students, faculty, corporate and foundation partners and friends through philanthropic and engagement opportunities.
Our Initiatives
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Student Experience
The students who graduate in the 2020s, whether they become researchers, policymakers, or entrepreneurs, will be responsible for the next great waves of technological innovation. Preparing our undergraduates is an inspiring opportunity.
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Technology and Innovation
As the challenges our students and faculty face grow increasingly complex, we strive to provide modern, specialized environments to produce transformative research. With our focus on technology and innovation, we must continuously advance our facilities and infrastructure as we move into UVA’s Third Century.
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Faculty Excellence
Addressing problems of increasing magnitude requires collaborating across many disciplines, creating new, more powerful tools and generating, collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data. At its core, this mission requires our faculty to re-imagine their role as teachers—from dispensers of knowledge to mentors and guides.
The future of the world is engineering and technology. Supporting the School that gave me the opportunity to be a part of this future is not only logical, it’s a symbol of honor and respect.
Kristine Lipscomb
Engr ’09
Get Involved
There are many ways for you to get involved with UVA Engineering. See below for some of the opportunities available to you.
Give a Guest Lecture
Share your knowledge with a specific class, department or student group. The format is up to you – formal presentation or informal ‘coffee chat’, but the goal is clear – share your knowledge, expertise, do’s and don’ts with current students on a topic area that aligns with your expertise.
Judge a Competition or Mentor a Team
UVA Engineering students frequently compete at local, regional and national competitions – from the Baja Racing Club to Hoos Flying to the ACC Inventure Prize and more – these students rely on the expertise of Faculty and those in industry to help them perfect their presentation or product.
Career Development and Mentoring Opportunities
We encourage alumni to stay connected and engage with students to aid in their career development. Alumni mentors can help students make decisions about their future plans, including choice of major, internships, career paths and graduate school.
I understand the importance of paying it forward; so many alumni assisted me during my time at UVA that it is my obligation to help those who follow after me. Supporting UVA Engineering both from a sweat equity and financial perspective is something my wife and I cherish.
Les Williams
Engr '00
About the Office of Advancement
The Office of Advancement supports UVA Engineering’s mission, vision and strategic priorities with alumni, students, faculty, corporate and foundation partners and friends through philanthropic and engagement opportunities.
The Advancement team is an integral part of the leadership of the School of Engineering, collaborating with the faculty, staff and students to build support for world-class research and education programs. The School is proud of its devoted and diverse group of supporters, including students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and corporations and foundations. UVA Engineering works to engage these partners and supporters in a variety of meaningful ways, including:
- Fundraising for undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and professorships
- Hosting alumni and donor events on Grounds and across the country
- Engaging alumni, parents and friends as guest lecturers, mentors and volunteer leaders
- Keeping alumni, parents and friends informed about UVA Engineering news
- Partnering with the UVA Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees, faculty and staff to advance the vision and mission of the School
About the University of Virginia Engineering Foundation
The Office of Advancement also serves as a liaison for the University of Virginia Engineering Foundation, which began as the brainchild of five alumni in 1948 "to assist the engineering faculty in maintaining a high type of student body and an up-to-date curriculum and to keep the school informed as to alumni endeavors and achievements."
The foundation was established as an independent, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization in 1953, with a board of directors and a refined mission "to aid and promote, by financial assistance and otherwise, all types of engineering education at the University of Virginia School of Engineering."
Today the UVA Engineering Foundation is managed by a 35-member Board of Trustees who manage the School's endowment and provide strategic counsel to the Dean and leadership team.
