On Saturday, 16 May 2026, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Class of 2026 gathered on Flagler Court to celebrate earning their Master of Business Administration degrees.
With their families and friends, 336 Full-Time MBA graduates, 115 Executive MBA graduates and 61 Part-Time MBA graduates, including 12 combined degree graduates, it was a full house!
The crowd on Flagler Court heard from Interim Dean Mike Lenox and elected class speakers from each program — Mel Phillips (Full-Time MBA), Bruce McAdams (Executive MBA) and Stuart Nystrom (Part-Time MBA).
Interim Dean Mike Lenox’s advice for the Class of 2026 focused on two main points: experiences and impact.
To determine the scale of their experiences and impact, three critical decisions will come into play: “Who are my partners? What is my purpose? Where is my place?”
Full-Time MBA
Mel Phillips, UVA Darden Full-Time MBA Class of ’26 Elected Graduation Speaker
“Imagine leaving Charlottesville and not knowing that Ops is life.”
The Full-Time MBA Class of 2026 elected Mel Phillips, president of the student-led Improv Club, as their class speaker. With carefully composed comedic timing, Mel got to the heart of what it means to get an MBA during a time of job market uncertainty:
“We’re already on the cusp of a world where people outsource almost everything to AI, but future generations, if they don’t know enough to recognize what the right answer should look like, a powerful AI model will only help them arrive at the wrong answer even faster. Thanks to Darden, we’ve had daily practice questioning ideas in Learning Teams and in the classroom.”
Phillips also lauded his fellow classmates’ ability to identify their priorities and take accountability for their choices, inside and outside of the classroom:
“Across every core subject, we evaluated trade-offs. And underneath every decision, lay a subtler question: What character traits and virtues do we hold most dear? What types of leaders do we want to be? No one can give us the answers to those questions, but Darden gave us a sandbox to practice working with frameworks and to fail safely.”
Executive MBA
Bruce McAdams, UVA Darden Executive MBA Class of ’26 Elected Graduation Speaker
This cohort of Executive MBA students celebrated their strong bond and sense of community during Bruce McAdams’ speech. He joked about the potential topics AI would have selected from the group’s WhatsApp chats over the course of the program. From student memes to inside jokes, it’s clear their friendships and shared experiences will extend far beyond the classroom.
“What sets this experience apart and makes this group so special is our willingness to laugh, be vulnerable, reflect and adapt,” he said.
McAdams’ asked the graduates to reflect on a simple moment of clarity they experienced over the last two years. For him, it was a moment early on in the program when he was able to support a colleague “speak truth to power.” That experience helped him find his voice.
“If you find yourself questioning how you got here, if that imposter syndrome is lingering, or you’re wondering what’s coming next, remember this – you are worthy of the seat you’re in. You have pushed through the doubt, you have carried the weight and you have earned it. Today is a symbol of your strength. And never forget you have a beautiful, thoughtful and supportive community behind you.”
Part-Time MBA
Stuart Nystrom, UVA Darden Part-Time MBA Class of ’26 Elected Graduation Speaker
The Part-Time MBA Class of 2026 is the second cohort of the program to graduate from Darden. Stuart Nystrom represented the class at graduation over the weekend and highlighted all the hard work that happens during the program in and out of the classroom.
“We built something real for the program that is just getting started,” he said.
“We chose the Darden Part-Time MBA program because it offered us the opportunity to build community and the challenge to apply what we learned immediately. Essentially, Darden handed us a room and said ‘fill it.’”
The case method brings a different feel into the classroom. Darden students learn from each other as well as the professors while debating real business problems.
“Like any symphony, the orchestra is made of many instruments that harmonize to create a melody. Not one instrument can do it alone. Similarly, when we filled a room, we brought our diverse backgrounds and experiences to produce something truly remarkable.”
The Part-Time MBA program is for working professionals in the Washington D.C. area. Over the course of their time at Darden, finding a balance between work and family takes time. Darden Part-Time students not only take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the workplace the next day, but see transformation in all aspects of their lives.
“There is not a single person in this cohort who did not earn a promotion, make a career or job change, or launch a new business during this program. Not after graduation, but during. And while they were doing that, people in these seats traveled the world, got married, some had kids, some had multiple, but we did not put our lives on hold to transform our careers, we did both at the same time.”
