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.