The beginning of the 2025 fall semester marked a historic first at McIntire: The School welcomed second-year students into the B.S. in Commerce Program. Recognizing both the excitement and challenges specific to second-years, the School launched the COMMence program, designed to guide these students as they transition into the rigorous academic, professional, and community life of the Commerce School while providing them with critical tools and resources to meet their goals throughout their time at McIntire.
In addition to fostering connection among second-years, the program provides a layered framework of resources—online tools, self-guided assessments, in-person workshops, and peer and alumni connections—that help second-years address common challenges while building the habits and confidence to thrive. From clarifying values and goals to connecting with mentors and managing demanding coursework, COMMence was intentionally created to meet students where they are and help them envision where they want to go.
Philanthropic support made the launch of this unique three-year initiative possible. Anton Levy (McIntire ’96), who served as the program’s key donor, reflected on why he felt called to invest: “As a father, I know that the challenges my children and their peers face are different than what they were for me when I was their age,” he says. “McIntire brought to my attention the needs and challenges of a typical second-year student and their well-researched and comprehensive plan to address those needs. I am drawn to innovative ideas, and the unique nature of the proposed COMMence program appealed to me. I decided to support the program through my philanthropy to inspire students to explore their potential, discover their strengths, and equip them with the skills and confidence to thrive for the remainder of their college careers and beyond.”
Doug Ferrari (McIntire ’78), another donor empowering the Commerce School to establish the program, emphasized its foundational impact: “I was excited to support COMMence because of the foundation it would provide for the incoming second-year students. They are learning about the many opportunities that McIntire has to offer to set them up for success while on Grounds and in their future careers and lives.”
With Levy’s key inspirational support and important gifts from donors like Ferrari, COMMence took off in August, highlighted by the Kickoff Conference, a two-day experiential event that introduced students to their classmates, the McIntire community, and a mindset for well-being and growth.
Taking Off: Sessions that Set the Tone
COMMence opened with high energy and quickly moved students from anticipation into engaged learning.
Warm welcoming messages from Associate Dean for Student Success Danny Steeper and Interim John A. Griffin Dean Amanda Cowen set the exciting tone for the first day’s sessions. In “Lava Leverage,” Assistant Director of Student Engagement Nathan Flyzik and COMMence student leaders taught second-years how effective communication and collaboration can mean the difference between sinking and soaring—metaphorically in the game’s “lava,” reinforcing the idea of working together to solve complex issues.
In the “Lava Leverage” session, second-years learn the power of teamwork as they navigate “lava,” where communication makes the difference between sinking and soaring. Photo by Amanda Maglione
For the reflective “Purposeful Paths” workshop, led by Katherine Lawrence, Associate Director of Student Engagement, and Ryan Hathaway, Associate Director of Student Engagement & Global Programs, students took inventory of their values in addition to activities encouraging them to explore how to work with one another and understand how their values matter in shaping their self-awareness, the McIntire community, and their future careers.
Career Development Associate Directors Annie Afriyie, Rory Lee-Washington, and Arie Moyers, with Assistant Director Katie Marsh, led “Unlocking Your Strengths at McIntire.” Explaining how students can reflect on and leverage their individual personal strengths to achieve their academic goals, the session prepared them to better understand themselves and their peers.
Day two of COMMence built on this momentum with a blend of practical strategies and big-picture inspiration. In the “Engagement Essentials” session, Professors Roger Martin and Jill Mitchell gave second-years strategies for building strong relationships with faculty. Sessions such as “Cleared for Takeoff” with Assistant Dean for Student Engagement & Academic Advising Sally Armentrout and Assistant Director of Student Engagement Katy Smith introduced students to McIntire’s advising team and the many available resources they provide. Together, they underscored a critical message: At McIntire, students may be the pilots of their own journeys, but they will never fly alone.
For the “Study Skills 2.0” session, Hayley Spear, Assistant Director of Student Engagement & Global Programs, and Sharice Welch, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, supplied students with strategies and resources for assessing their abilities and areas for growth and setting up SMART goals through personalized academic approaches, positioning self-awareness as a cornerstone of long-term success.
Perhaps the most talked-about moments came from the featured keynote speakers.
The second day began with Liz Koehler (McIntire ’03), executive coach and leadership consultant. Her talk, “Thrive Now: Building a Life That Works as Hard as You Do,” reminded the audience that “burnout isn’t a badge of honor.” The former Managing Director at BlackRock gave an important keynote on well-being, challenging students to recognize that caring for their mental and emotional health is not only compatible with success, but critical to sustaining it.
Indiana Pacers Head Coach and UVA alumnus Rick Carlisle shares a powerful message with students on resourcefulness, presence, and relationships—drawing on decades of NBA leadership and his 1986 championship with the Boston Celtics. Photo by Amanda Maglione
Later that afternoon, Rick Carlisle (A&S ’84), Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers and UVA alumnus, delivered a powerful message anchored in three essentials: resourcefulness, presence, and relationships. Drawing on decades of leadership in the NBA, where he won a title playing with the Boston Celtics in 1986, Carlisle gave students an insider’s view of resilience under pressure. As a coach who led the Dallas Mavericks to their first NBA Championship in 2011 and who earned the 2002 NBA Coach of the Year Award, he carries a legacy of excellence shaped by the values and commitment he developed as a co-captain of UVA’s 1984 Final Four team.
Voices of the Class of 2028
If the sessions provided tools and inspiration, the student reflections revealed their impact. Many students highlighted how COMMence gave them confidence and reassurance as they entered McIntire. Henry Omohundro (McIntire ’28) noted the sense of excitement and energy in meeting classmates, saying the event left him feeling assured “that the staff will be there to guide and support us throughout our journey.” Adriana Albritton (McIntire ’28) echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how the program “provided me with reassurance that I have a team of faculty rooting for me and fostered an environment that was energetic and insightful to relieve some new program jitters.”
Others focused on how COMMence encouraged reflection and self-discovery. Martina Genis (McIntire ’28) described the two days as “truly worthwhile,” explaining that the program gave her the chance to reflect on her values and step outside her comfort zone. Similarly, Ava McGoey (McIntire ’28) shared that being surrounded by classmates, faculty, and staff “gave me the space to recognize what I want to accomplish here, both academically and personally.”
Students also pointed to the influence of the featured speakers. Lena Nifong (McIntire ’28) described how Carlisle’s reflections on leadership and Koehler’s guidance on personal well-being broadened her perspective: “Together, their perspectives inspired me to approach my time at McIntire with both intentionality and confidence.”
The students’ voices affirm that COMMence succeeded in balancing reassurance with challenge—offering tools, community, and a sense of direction as they begin their McIntire journeys.
Continuing their Commerce Journey
The Kickoff Conference may have been the launchpad, but COMMence is designed with a three-year trajectory. Throughout the fall semester, students deepen their understanding with a required component of guided modules that reinforces and extends concepts they learned about during the kickoff event. In the spring, second-years will continue with the self-guided curriculum of online courses, connect with McIntire board members, and join third-years in the Backpack-2-Briefcase series before learning their Integrated Core block assignments.
They’ll also have the opportunity to take part in the relaunched McIntire Alumni Mentorship (MAM) program, which pairs students with alumni for guidance in career exploration, networking, and interview preparation, while also helping students hone storytelling and self-awareness.
The program continues beyond their second year—straight through until they walk the Lawn, in fact. COMMence will provide engagement opportunities into the third and fourth years, with alumni panels, peer-led sessions, Commerce Services networking opportunities, and even an Integrated Core reunion lunch. At every stage, the focus remains the same: helping students build resilience, community, and clarity as they prepare for careers that will shape industries and communities worldwide.
As the first class of second-years becomes more acclimated with all that comes from the inimitable McIntire student experience, COMMence is already proving to be more than an orientation. It is a promise—one made possible through alumni support—that the School will invest in its students’ growth not only as scholars, but as people, leaders, and global citizens.
