Though he grew up about two hours southwest of Grounds, in Salem, VA, Alex Rea seemed destined to become a student at the University of Virginia. To begin with, his father graduated from the McIntire School, and his mother became a doctor after attending UVA’s School of Medicine. Rea’s family connections were one reason. The other? His parents’ and his lifelong passion for UVA football. It made Charlottesville the ideal place for him to pursue his interests.
Rea’s love for UVA football began in childhood, sparked by his father’s enthusiasm for the team. “Ever since I was probably eight or nine, we’ve been coming to games,” he says. That dedication culminated in his attendance at a game against Virginia Tech during the 2019 season, which served as a defining moment for his fandom. “That was the year we beat Tech. We rushed the field, and it was amazing. I’ve spent my whole life surrounded by Hokies, so it felt really good,” he says, referring to his hometown’s proximity to UVA’s rivals.
While following UVA football closely has always been important to him, Rea has equally committed himself to his academic pursuits at McIntire. He credits his father’s business acumen with sparking his interest in commerce. “My dad owns five local health food stores, and I’ve worked in his stores and talked to him a lot about business. I’ve always wanted to do something in business, so the Comm School just made sense,” Rea explains. In addition to pursuing his McIntire degree, he is double-majoring in Economics, which aligns with his long-term interest in finance.
Last summer, Rea’s academic journey took him far from Scott Stadium and UVA classrooms, as he traveled to Dominica as part of a faculty-led course with McIntire Professor Bevin Etienne. “We acted as consultants to small businesses on the island,” Rea says. His team worked closely with a collective of farmers, developing strategies to improve both their farming processes and expand their sales beyond the local community.
The experience opened Rea’s eyes to the broader challenges of running a sustainable business, especially in a place like Dominica, where preserving the environment is vital. “The focus wasn’t just on improving their farming but doing it in a way that makes sense for the next hundred years,” Rea explains. He emphasizes the importance of communicating effectively with the farmers to ensure that his team’s suggestions were both practical and culturally sensitive. “We had to think about why they would want to do what an outsider was suggesting and really empathize with them to communicate how this would be helpful,” he says.
When he returned to the U.S., Rea’s summer continued with an internship at ReVend, a North Carolina-based e-commerce startup specializing in selling collectible toys out of a converted tobacco factory by way of live-streamed auctions. The internship at this innovative company was quite different from his earlier experience in Dominica, but equally educational. “I got to rotate around different areas of the business, learning about finance, strategy, and marketing. They’re doing things no one else is really doing in the U.S. right now,” Rea says. He worked closely with the company’s CFO, gaining hands-on experience in analyzing financial statements and assessing the company’s strategic direction.
But even with these varied academic and professional experiences, Rea’s love for football has remained a constant in his life. His involvement with the team took a unique turn when he became a student videographer. “One of my roommates met someone on the water polo team who worked with the video staff for football, and he thought I would be interested,” Rea says. That casual connection led him to Luke Goldstein, UVA Assistant Athletics Director for Video Services, and before long, Rea was behind the camera at practices and games. “It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” he says enthusiastically.
As a videographer, Rea films football practices twice a week, capturing footage that coaches later analyze. On game days, he’s part of a larger crew, filming from high above the field. “I get to see practice every day, see how the team works, and be a part of the action. It’s almost like being part of the team,” he says. His role also earned him the opportunity to travel with the organization, flying to some away games, including a memorable trip to Boston last season. “It’s such a cool experience to fly with the team and see all of this up close,” he adds.
When he’s not behind the camera or diving into his business courses, Rea is an avid golfer. “I play golf whenever I can,” he says, proudly noting that he achieved a scratch handicap last summer. He’s also a member of UVA’s club golf team, though balancing his schedule with football videography has kept him from playing in as many tournaments as he’d like.
As Rea continues his journey through McIntire, balancing his various interests in business, football, and golf, he is mindful of those he is connecting with along the way. “One of the things I’ve realized is how important relationships are. That’s something I’ve been thinking about recently—how relationships with people, especially those who matter to you, can define a good life,” he reflects.
