DCGI - People

Katherine Beach
Executive Director  
+1-434-243-2198 

Katherine (Kate) Beach serves as Executive Director of the Darden Center for Global Initiatives (DCGI) at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. In this role, she leads a high-impact team responsible for advancing globalization initiatives across the School and managing global academic programs for MBA students across all degree formats. She collaborates closely with senior leadership to fulfill Darden’s commitment that every MBA student engage in a meaningful global experience. In addition to overseeing global academic programming, Kate shapes Darden’s global strategy related to alumni engagement, international partnerships, and global events. She also manages key third-party relationships that support Darden’s strategic presence in key markets, including China and India.

Prior to joining Darden, Kate held several roles at the Institute for Shipboard Education / Semester at Sea, culminating in her service as Assistant Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar. She earned both her Ed.D. and M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Virginia and holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Sweet Briar College. 

Larry Mueller   
Assistant Dean, Global Advising 
+1-434-924-7559                                                                                

Larry Mueller was named assistant dean of Global Advising in July 2017. He serves as an adviser to the international student population at Darden. He also focuses attention on further globalization of the Darden curriculum, creating new global business relationships and seeking new case study opportunities.

Mueller joined the Darden School faculty in 1993 and served as assistant dean for the Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) (from 2011-2017), leading operations that focus the MBA education in global venues. In that role, he developed relationships with global companies and their C-suite constituents, which led to company visits and international in-class speakers. He also worked with faculty colleagues to initiate the development of new case studies that pertain to the MBA skills and disciplines being taught during international visits. He oversaw and managed the logistics and hospitality operations and vendor contracts for GEMBA residencies in the United States, Brazil, China, France, Germany and India.

Previously at Darden, Mueller served two years as executive director for the Darden Center for Global Initiatives, served 16 years as director of financial aid, and taught in both the residential MBA and Executive Education programs.

Mueller has served as a consultant to Citigroup, Marriott Hotels, Singapore Airlines, Singapore’s Service Quality Centre and State Farm. Prior to his graduate degrees, he was senior catering services operation manager for Marriott Hotels and local chairman of the company’s service quality committee.

Mueller received his Ph.D. in management and administration from the University of Virginia, MBA from the Darden School, and bachelor’s degree in economics from UVA.

Mueller currently serves as faculty advisor to the Virginia Gentlemen, academic advisor for the University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences, faculty fellow to Brown Residential College, and development advisor to the Virginia Glee Club.
 

Doris Cao
Director of China Initiatives
+86-21-6437-2118  

Doris Cao, based in Shanghai, China, has significant experience working with U.S. business schools entering into and developing their presence in the China market.  She has served as Associate Director of the USC Marshall School of Business  Shanghai Office, supporting their Global Executive MBA Program delivered jointly with Shanghai Jiao Tong University since 2012.  In this role she has led the team for operations and execution of marketing, admission, student/alumni relations, faculty service and administration, developing marketing and recruitment plans throughout Southeast Asia for the program, overseeing operations, and managing key accounts for business development in China and the region.  Previously, Doris served as  Program Manager for the Rutgers Business School Shanghai Office and as Director of Public Relations for the Shanghai Angel Charity Foundation. She holds an Executive MBA from Rutgers Business School and a BA from Shanghai International Studies University.  

Hemant Das
Providing Principal Advisor Services for India Initiatives through Sannam S4
+91-9987951221 

Hemant serves as the Principal Advisor for India Initiatives through Darden's partner Sannam S4. Hemant works collaboratively across the Darden Enterprise, leading efforts to advance the school’s impact and engagement in India and the region. He is a key liaison for Darden to alumni, corporate partners, current/prospective students, and business and educational institutions in the region. 

Prior to supporting Darden's efforts in India and the Southeast Asia region, Hemant was responsible for a portfolio of executive education programs run in collaboration with top global business schools including Columbia Business School, University of Cambridge Judge Business School and the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley across different locations in North America, Europe and Asia. In that role, he  partnered with faculty, marketing, advisory teams and local executives to design programs across a range of areas including digital transformation, financial leadership, leadership, general management and data analytics.

Hemant holds an Executive MBA from Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. He has worked in different sectors including retail, e-commerce, travel, advertising and higher education in India and the UK.

Hemant currently lives and works in Mumbai, India. He has lived and worked in London, UK for a few years before moving back to India.

James Mitchell 
Director of Global Programs 
+1-434-924-7265 

James Mitchell serves as Director of Global Programs where he leads the development and delivery of international experiential learning opportunities. In this role, he oversees Darden’s portfolio of global programs, including international exchange partnerships, Darden Worldwide Courses, Global Residencies and Global Client Projects, working closely with faculty, institutional partners, and industry stakeholders to create transformative learning experiences around the world. With more than a decade of experience in international education, experiential learning, and global program management, James has dedicated his career to helping students engage meaningfully across cultures and contexts. Prior to joining Darden, he served at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, where he managed global field research, international internships, and community-based learning opportunities for graduate students in more than 20 countries. James also brings extensive experience in international development, having managed U.S. government-funded programs that promoted economic opportunity, community development, and people-to-people exchange throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. His work has included oversight of complex international projects, global partnerships, risk management, and cross-cultural collaboration in both academic and development settings. An active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Forum on Education Abroad, James has lived, worked, studied, and traveled extensively across five continents. He is passionate about expanding access to global learning and helping students develop the intercultural competencies, professional skills, and global perspectives needed to thrive in an interconnected world.

Jack Woodward
Assistant Director of Global Programs
+1-434-924-0872 

Jack Woodward serves as Assistant Director of Global Programs. In this role, Jack provides administrative support to all of the global programs running through the center. Jack is responsible for managing course Canvas sites, booking travel, scheduling, and supporting all the processes related to student travel or welcoming groups of students from partner schools. Prior to joining Darden, Jack worked as an insurance and billing coordinator at a dental office managing claims, accounts receivable and daily operations. 

Jack earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Business Administration from Christopher Newport University, mainly focusing on critical media studies and international media reception. He grew up and lived in Yorktown, Virginia prior to moving to Charlottesville. Jack is eager to contribute his skillset to the mission of CGI's global academic programming. 

Devon Walther
Projects and Operations Manager

Devon serves as Projects and Operations Manager with CGI, the Center for Global Initiatives. Devon earned her Bachelor of Arts in Equine Studies and Business Management and Entrepreneurship Minor from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Following undergraduate graduation, she spent three years as a professional in the Equine industry before returning to the classroom to obtain an MBA. Devon earned from MBA with a concentration in Sustainable Enterprises from Mary Baldwin University. Devon is joining us from S&P Global Market Intelligence, where she was a Senior Associate in Energy Client Operations. In this role, she provided insight into industry data, collaborated with the product management team, trained new hires, provided client training demos, produced webcasts with live audiences, and more.

In her free time, Devon enjoys spending time outdoors hiking with her dogs, cooking, and traveling.

Kristie Braunston
Global Programs Manager

Kristie Braunston serves as a Global Programs Manager.  In this role, Kristie supports students on Darden Worldwide Courses and Global Residencies as well as working with faculty and students on Global Client Projects.  Prior to joining Darden, Kristie worked as an Assistant Director of Account Management at WorldStrides where she designed and managed faculty-led short term programs for over 15 universities. 

Kristie earned her bachelor’s degree in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University and her Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University. Her passion for educational travel stems from her experience traveling internationally as both a student and an athlete.  

Abbey Falknor
Senior Global Programs Administrator

Abbey is a Senior Global Programs Administrator with the Center for Global Initiatives. Abbey attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Integrated Social Studies Education. Prior to joining Darden, she served as a high school English and History teach in Cincinnati, Ohio and worked at Enerfin Renewables, a global renewable energy developer, in operations and marketing. When Abigail is not assisting the CGI team, she can be found enjoying the outdoors on a long hike, getting lost in a good book, or testing a new baking recipe. Although she grew up in southwest Ohio, her home away from home is in Luxembourg, where she once lived and studied. 

Kelsey Black
Global Programs Administrator
+1-434-924-7841

Kelsey joins Darden as a Global Programs Administrator in the Center for Global Initiatives.  She holds a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming in International Studies where she focused on Muslim perspectives after the 2019 Christchurch, New Zealand terrorist attacks. She joins the CGI team from the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative, supporting international development projects in the Middle East and North Africa.  Originally from Tucson, Arizona, she enjoys living and exploring the beautiful Virginia area and more of the East Coast. She is passionate about travelling and exploring new places, reading, and spending quality time with friends and family.