DCGI - People

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

As Executive Director, Kate Beach leads the Darden Center for Global Initiatives team in driving globalization initiatives across Darden and managing global academic programs for students in all MBA degree formats. She works closely with senior leadership in fulfilling the expectation that every MBA student have a significant global experience during their degree program. Beyond academic programs, she organizes and develops global strategy for Darden with regard to alumni, partner schools and global events. Kate also oversees the relationships with third parties to advance Darden engagement interests in key markets around the world. 

Prior to joining DCGI, Kate earned an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration through the UVA School of Education and Human Development. She is currently ABD in the Ed.D. Higher Education program. Prior to joining Darden, she worked in various positions at the Institute for Shipboard Education, most recently as the Assistant Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar. Kate is an avid traveler and is passionate about creating greater global understanding and collaboration.

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 most recently served as assistant dean for the Global Executive MBA (GEMBA), 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 Marriott Hotels, Singapore Airlines, Singapore’s Service Quality Centre and Citigroup. He was also 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 a member of the board of directors for the Center for Christian Study, 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.  

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

James Mitchell serves as the Director of Global Programs, supporting residential students on Exchange, Darden Worldwide Courses and Global Client Projects. James is an international project manager with over ten years' experience administering experiential learning and cross-cultural exchange activities. Previously, at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, James supported global field research, international internships, and study away opportunities for graduate students. Prior to joining Darden, James managed a portfolio of people-to-people exchange and rural economic development projects operating in Sub-Saharan Africa and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). A professional member of the NAFSA Association of International Educators and the Forum on Education Abroad, James has worked, traveled, studied, and lived around the world and loves to help students find meaningful ways to do the same. 

David Dráb
Manager of IT Operations and Business Analysis  
+1-941-266-8213

Originally from the Czech Republic, David Dráb serves as Darden’s Global Business Analyst, working closely with the Darden Center for Global Initiatives and the Dean’s Office. David collects and analyzes data and prepares reports on Darden’s global engagements, as well as working with the Dean’s Office to manage enterprise metrics and reporting for key initiatives. He works across departments on tasks such as program evaluation, records management, tracking key performance indicators, data visualization and process improvement.
 
David holds an MLitt in Marketing from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Information Systems from the Technical University in Liberec, Czech Republic. Prior to obtaining his master’s degree, David worked as a Relationship Manager at a Digital Marketing Agency in Czech. Most recently, David worked for the University of St Andrews as a Portfolio Officer in the Business Transformation office. David managed and led University-wide projects such as the analysis and centralization of the University’s governing documentation, and the implementation of a new search engine to effectively target prospective students. With a passion for international students and higher education, David is excited to join the team at Darden and use his international experience to support analysis-driven decision making. 

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.

Jack Woodward
Global Programs Manager
+1-434-924-0872 

Jack Woodward serves as Global Programs Manager. 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
Administrative Coordinator

Devon has joined Darden as Administrative Coordinator 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 dog, cooking, and traveling.

Abbey Holland
Senior Global Programs Administrator

Abbey Holland serves as Senior Global Programs Administrator. In this role, Abbey provides administrative support to all the global programs running through the center. Abbey 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, Abbey worked in many administrative roles including Operations Assistant for Plant Operations at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA. 

Abbey is currently attending the University of Central Florida's Latin American Studies program She grew up in Massachusetts but has lived in several east coast states. Abbey brings a passion for travel and an eagerness to learn and contribute to CGI's mission. 

Abigail Falknor
Global Programs Administrator

Abigail has joined Darden as a Global Programs Administrator with the Center for Global Initiatives. Abigail 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.  Most recently, Abigail has 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. 

Maggie Nelsen
Assistant Director of Global Programs Rosslyn

Maggie has joined Darden as Assistant Director of Global Programs with the Center for Global Initiatives. Maggie has a background in graduate student services, global course management, adult professional development, and expertise in internationalizing U.S. education programs. She joins us from the US Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs where she was the Senior Program Officer, Global Program Lead. In this role, Maggie implemented global professional development courses for an audience of adult professionals in every region of the world. Maggie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Government from Connecticut College, her Master of Arts in International Education and Adult Learning from The George Washington University and holds a Project Management Certificate from Cornell University. In the free time, Maggie enjoys spending time with family outdoors and going to DC sports games with her husband. Maggie is also an avid swimmer, yogi, photographer, and jewelry designer.

The Darden Center for Global Initiatives (DCGI) sponsors a fellowship for thought leaders from the United States and around the world. Fellows come to Darden to work with Darden faculty to:

• Collaborate on research
• Develop case teaching materials
• Write cases based on home countries
• Observe classes to become more effective teachers
• Share their practical knowledge with current students

Completed cases are made available through Darden Business Publishing. The International Finance Conference’s (IFCs) Global Business School Network, an ongoing partner with DCGI, recommends international junior faculty members as fellows for the center. DCGI assists fellows with logistical support and acclimation to the area. 
 

2017-2019 Fellow

LEANDRO GUISSONI

Dr. Leandro Guissoni is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Fundação Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He serves as the course head of Marketing Analytics. Professor Guissoni has developed research projects in collaboration with leading companies and executives in Brazil such as Nielsen, Natura, Johnson & Johnson and Magazine Luiza. Professor Guissoni has won awards for his teaching every year. He has served as the chair of FGV’s Latin American Retail Annual Conference since 2015, which aims to encourage knowledge generation and dissemination in retailing among Latin American business schools.

Guissoni's books Marketing Metrics, Trade Marketing and Shopper Marketing have sold more than 10,000 copies in Brazil and the latter was selected as the 2011 Book of the Year in Brazil. He holds a Ph.D. in Business from the University of Sao Paulo. During his PhD (2010-2012) he served as a visiting Ph.D. student at the Darden School of Business and worked on research that was published in the Journal of Retailing. He was a partner of Markestrat (2008-2015) and he is a Business Advisor of ToolboxTM, a local consultancy in Brazil that has served large global and local consumer packaged goods companies. Prior, he worked in the Marketing Department at Coca-Cola in Brazil.

Guissoni’s specializes in retailing, marketing analytics, distribution channel management. Recent case studies and publications on these topics have been featured by The Washington Post, Darden Business Publishing and Harvard Business Publishing. He is also working on a project to help increase profitability of Ecommerce operations in Brazil.

2014-2019 Fellow

MARITO GARCIA

Dr. Marito Garcia was a staff member of the World Bank, Washington D.C. and worked in various capacities, including as Sector Manager for Education in the Latin America and Caribbean region, and as Lead Economist and program manager of several key programs such as the new economy skills and early childhood development programs in the Africa region. Prior to his work at the World Bank, he was a Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington D.C. As Sector Manager for Education at the World Bank, he managed an investment portfolio of 52 countries in Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, and the Middle East. 

Dr. Garcia has led several innovations in education and social sector service delivery, such as the application of online-learning using MOOCs, the development of new economy skills development like microwork or online free-lancing for Africa, introduction of e-books and e-readers in schools, and youth employment initiatives tied to online-learning competencies. He is author of 10 books and more than 25 major publications in economics, education, conditional cash transfers programs, youth employment and workforce development, technology in education, food security and nutrition, and early childhood development. Dr. Garcia has won a number of professional awards (in 2001, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013) for innovations and excellence at the World Bank and U.S. Library Journal Award for best book of 2009. He completed his Ph.D. in Development Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands; and Executive Program for World Bank Managers at the Harvard Business School, Harvard University (Boston, MA).  
 

2013 Fellow

HEINI SHI

Dr. Heini Shi has lived in China since 2007, where she develops and teaches leadership programs at top global business schools, including the Darden School of Business, IE Business School and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. In 2012, she was a visiting fellow at the East West Center in Honolulu, HI. Heini was the founding director of the international department at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing, where she managed international partnerships and designed executive education programs.

Prior to working in China, Heini worked in Europe and the United States as program manager at the World Bank, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and United Nations Development Program, where she designed and managed economic policy and social development projects for more than 40 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. She was also a legal advisor at Allen & Overy, where she consulted with European firms on their Chinese investments. She has also co-edited the Global Information Technology Report (2004–05), a joint publication of the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and INSEAD. Heini graduated from the University of Turin, Italy and holds a Ph.D. of international economic law from Bocconi Business University in Milan, Italy. Heini is a fluent speaker of Chinese, English, Italian and French. 
 

2010 Fellow

JOHN HUNTER

John Hunter is a local elementary school teacher who developed "The World Peace Game," which he uses to teach peace and collaboration to students of all ages. Hunter is working with Darden faculty to increase their understanding, use and promotion of high-engagement learning in a global context.