UVA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION BOARD

Mission

The School of Architecture Foundation exists to support and foster the study and teaching of architecture, landscape architecture, architectural history and urban and environmental planning at the University of Virginia, and to aid, strengthen, and extend in every proper and useful manner the work, services and objectives of the School of Architecture.

Member Responsibilities

I. Set Direction

• Develop and maintain focus on mission and vision.
• Establish and oversee implementation of strategic direction.
• Delegate authority for organizational management.
• Articulate, safeguard, model, and promote organizational values.

II. Ensure Resources

• Identify human and financial resources needed for implementation of mission.
• Establish policies for how these resources will be acquired, including policies for board member participation.
• Ensure that the necessary resources are made available to carry out the strategic direction. 

III. Provide Oversight

• Establish financial policies, including spending and investment policies, and ensure accountability.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards.
• Ensure compliance with the University of Virginia Policy on University-Related Foundations.

Foundation Board Member Bios

David Haresign, FAIA

President

UVA BSArch 1976

Partner, Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS

Washington, D.C.

David Haresign is a founding partner of Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS. Haresign is a specialist in large-scale, complex projects, leading project teams and organizations with conceptual clarity, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to design excellence. He implements diverse project typologies with challenging entitlements, large integrated teams, and tight fiscal constraints. His integrated project delivery archives iconic design, technical innovation, restoration, and re-purposing of old fabric that re-invigorates neighborhoods and communities. Committed to smart growth planning and preservation, Haresign is a socially responsible architect charting a sustainable future. He promotes affordable housing as a basic right and cornerstone of smart growth – retaining less affluent residents in old neighborhoods and housing them in new ones.

Haresign engages the public through outreach and pro-bono activism, developing alliances and recruiting through leadership at the AIA and the academy, and exposing the results of his work through awards, publication, exhibitions, and presentations. His projects are widely recognized with over 150 national, regional, and local design awards, and in international and national publications including Urban Land, Residential Architect, Inform, Architecture DC and the Washington Post. Haresign recently organized and chaired two major, highly successful exhibits at the District Architecture Center focusing on architects’ impact on the city. His outreach extends to boards of related professional, academic, cultural and community organizations where Haresign serves as a Trustee, Director, and leader. He mentors and inspires young architects with individual guidance. Haresign is a sought-after design critic, and a frequent lecturer and panelist at noted regional universities and public conferences. He has been elevated to the College of Fellows, one of the American Institute of Architects highest individual honors.

Jeffrey Murphy, FAIA

Vice-President

UVA BSArch 1982, Harvard GSD MArch

Partner, Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects

New York, NY

jmurphy@mbbarch.com

Turning constraints into opportunities, Jeffrey Murphy leads the planning and design of multi-dimensional, complex projects. His award-winning work for cultural and educational institutions shows how sustainable design can enrich the beauty, function, and performance of architecture. As a founding partner of Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects, Murphy melds bold design vision with a commitment to addressing diverse stakeholder needs and interests. From greening historic buildings to planning campus-wide sustainability upgrades, he synthesizes technical, cultural, economic, and health criteria. His expansive definition of sustainability includes not only high-performance building systems, but also creating places that people love and care for over generations.

Murphy earned a Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the University of Virginia. At Harvard he received the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture Research Fellowship and the post-graduate Wheelwright Prize. He has served as director for the Harvard Alumni Association and a trustee of the UVA School of Architecture Foundation. Cultivating architecture’s civic role, Murphy has held Board, Secretary, and several committee positions with the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He has served as a board member of Community District 7 in Manhattan and as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village of Saltaire, New York. He also teaches environmental design methods at New York University.

Murphy was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2016.

Peter V. Daniel
Treasurer  
UVA COL 1973, UVA Parent 2011

Founder, Highfield Management

Charlottesville, VA

Peter V. Daniel is a 1973 graduate of the College with concentration in English. His business career spanned 4 decades in corporate finance and investment management. He is the Founder and Principal of Highfield Management, a multifaceted asset manager which consults for endowments and individuals. His background in Architectural History began with Professor Nichols' courses at the Architecture School and subsequently his second career as  Lecturer and Development Principal at the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut. 

Alec Garbini
Secretary  
UVA BSArch 1970

President, CM2 Inc.

Denver, CO

garbinisan@aol.com 

Wendy Barnes

UVA Parent 2025

CEO, RXBenefits

Charlotte, NC

 A seasoned leader with more than 30 years of healthcare management experience, Wendy Barnes joined RxBenefits as Chief Executive Officer in 2022 after serving as the President of Express Scripts Pharmacy where she oversaw the service, operation, and financial success of the organization's multiple pharmacies on behalf of 100 million beneficiaries. Prior to this, she held a variety of healthcare leadership roles at Rite Aid, Premier Inc. and served as a Medical Service Corps Officer stationed around the globe. Both a strategic leader and visionary, Barnes is driven by a desire to bend the healthcare cost curve to serve patients better. In RxBenefits’ new chapter, Barnes continues to fulfill the organization’s mission of delivering greater healthcare value to employee benefit consultants and plan sponsors. She’s also passionate about giving back to her community through service to Make a Wish and Wounded Warriors. She’s a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and the University of Alaska at Anchorage with an MBA. Barnes resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two daughters.

Frank (Rusty) M. Conner III
COL 1978; JD 1981
Partner, Covington & Burling LLP

Principal, Cebelle Holdings Corporation

Washington, D.C.

Rusty Conner has been a corporate lawyer and strategist with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions for over 40 years. He is a partner with Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, D.C.
 Rusty is also a principal in Cebelle Holdings Corporation, a family-owned commercial real estate development, investment, and management company focused on the warehousing and logistics sector. In addition, he is active in a variety of public service efforts and has served on the boards of, and in certain cases served as the Chair of, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the Virginia College Savings Plan, Ford's Theatre, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, and the DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. From 2014 to 2022, he served on the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia and during his term served as Vice Rector and Rector. Rusty also served on the boards of the College Foundation, Health System, Miller Center Governing Council, and Jefferson Scholars Foundation. He continues to serve on the board of the UVA Foundation.
Rusty currently serves as Counsel to and on the board of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, a non-governmental organization that supports the development of democratic institutions in 65 countries. Rusty received his J.D. and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

Silvia Erskine
UVA BSArch 1982, MLA 1986

Principal, Erskine Associates LLC

Redding, Connecticut

silvia@erskineassoc.com 

Silvia Erskine is the principal of Erskine Associates LLC, an award-winning design firm based in Redding, CT. She received a B.S. in Architecture (1982) and a Master of Landscape Architecture (1986) from UVA and is registered as an architect, landscape architect and interior designer in Connecticut. Before opening her own office in 1995, she worked with Cesar Pelli & Associates in New Haven and J.P. Franzen Associates in Southport, CT. Silvia has been a member of the Redding Land Trust Board of Trustees since 2010 and now serves as its co-president. Silvia was also on the Preserve Committee of Devil’s Den, Fairfield County’s largest nature preserve. She received a commendation from the State of Connecticut for her role as a founding member of the Town of Westport Tree Board. She has also been an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden in their Certificate of Landscape Design Program.

Barbara J. Fried
UVA COL 2004
Chairman, Fried Companies, Inc.

Crozet, VA

Barbara J. Fried received a B.A. from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School. She holds an M.A. in History from the University of Virginia (2004) and completed the course work and orals for her Ph.D. in History at the University of Virginia. Fried has three children and five grandchildren, and resides in Crozet, Virginia. Fried is Chairman of Fried Companies, Inc., a real estate development and management firm. With her late husband and law partner, Mark, she practiced law in Northern Virginia with a primary focus on real estate.

Fried serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Board for Innisfree Village in Albemarle County, a voluntary community for adults with intellectual disabilities dedicated to providing a life sharing home and work environment. She and her late husband were among the founders of Innisfree. She is Chairman of the non-profit Fried Center for the Advancement of Potential (FCAP), providing evaluation and medical fitness training. She is a founder of Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy (C.A.R.T.), a non-profit organization located at the Fried Farm, devoted to bringing therapeutic recreational horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities in the Charlottesville area. She serves on the board of the Rare Book School at UVA, and on the Miller Center board. Past civic involvements include Chairman of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and Virginia Humanities; member of the Board of Trustees of George Mason University Foundation, Inc.; Visiting Committee, University of Chicago Law School; Fairfax County, Virginia Audit Committee; member, Virginia Housing Commission; Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board; Director, National Capitol Area YWCA; Director, Albemarle Housing Improvement Program. Fried served two terms on the University of Virginia Board of Visitors (2014-2022) through appointment by Governor McAuliffe in 2014 and reappointment by Governor Northam in 2018.

Eric D. Groft, FASLA
Shippensburg University BS Geography and Environmental Science; UVA MLA 1984
CEO and Director, OEHME, VAN SWEDEN | OvS
Washington, DC

Eric D. Groft, FASLA, is renowned for a diverse body of work, including residential, commercial, and institutional work, spanning 40 years. He is CEO and Director of OEHME, VAN SWEDEN | OvS based in Washington, D.C. His commissions include the 2020 renovation of the White House Rose Garden; a riverine landscape in St. Louis, Missouri’s historic Forest Park; the American Museum and Gardens in Bath, UK; the Federal Reserve Campus in Washington, D.C., and two major projects at the University of Virginia: The Shannon Library Quadrangle and the University’s renovated and expanded bookstore. He is widely recognized as an industry leader in ecological sensitivity, environmental restoration, and shoreline stabilization. Groft holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in geography and environmental science from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth (Liz) Haile Hayes
UVA JD 1978, UVA Parent 2013

Arlington, VA

Elizabeth (Liz) Haile Hayes is a retired attorney who has served on various education-related boards. She was an Equity Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington D.C. and head of its Communications Practice. After retiring from the firm, she was a trustee and board chair of St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, VA and the National Cathedral School in Washington D.C. (where she also currently serves). 

Hayes served on the Board of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation from 2009-18, including 5 years as Secretary. From 2015-2021, Hayes was a Director on the University of Virginia School of Architecture Foundation Board. Currently, Hayes is a member of the New Futures Board of Directors (an organization that provides underserved young people with scholarships for community colleges). She graduated from Emory University and received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Catherine Heath, FIIDA, AIA, LEED AP
UVA BSArch 1988
Founder and CEO of HYL Architecture
Esmont, VA

Catherine Heath, FIIDA, AIA, LEED AP, is the Founding Partner and CEO of HYL Architecture, providing vision and strategy and overseeing all operations of the firm out of offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City. She is recognized as a design leader by her industry peers, elected to the International Interior Design Association’s College of Fellows in 2021. Her design career has included leadership roles on projects for some of the most notable corporate headquarters, law firms, and government agencies in the US and abroad. She has worked at scales ranging from 1,000 to more than 4 million square feet. Projects under her direction have won more than 30 design awards and been featured in numerous design and business journals and publications. Heath holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Zena Howard, FAIA
UVA BSArch 1988

Chair, Cultural and Civic Practice, Perkins + Will

Cary, NC

Zena Howard (Arch ’88) is a Principal and the firmwide Cultural and Civic Practice Chair for global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will. An award-winning architect, strategist, mentor and team builder, her career has been defined by visionary, complex, and culturally-significant projects, such as the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., that navigate social issues of equity and justice, restoring lost cultural connections by honoring history and memory. Other noteworthy projects include Greenville Town Common at Sycamore Hill in Greenville, North Carolina; the District of Columbia Anacostia and Tenley Friendship Neighborhood Libraries in Washington, DC; the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina, North Carolina Freedom Park in Raleigh, North Carolina; and the much-anticipated expansion of the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan, a project that commemorates the history and continuing legacy of Berry Gordy and Motown’s unique artists and internationally-recognized sound.

Zena has been integral in developing and realizing Remembrance Design™, an urban and architectural design process that engages historically marginalized and negatively impacted communities to redress painful issues, bridge diverse experiences, inspire resilient communities, and infuse culture into projects. Zena is also a founding member of Perkins&Will’s global Diversity and Inclusion Council. By example and through advocacy and mentoring, she advances diversity within the architecture profession, a field where minority and women professionals are historically under-represented.

Marcus Hurley

Princeton BS Engineering, UVA MArch 2000

Senior Project Manager, CSL Consulting

Providence, RI

With more than 23 years of design and construction experience, Marcus Hurley has managed complex projects of up to $100 million in value. His experience extends across a variety of building types including new construction, renovations, and capital renewal projects. He currently focuses on higher education work. A registered architect, Hurley has professionally managed all phases of project development from pre-construction through punch list and close-out. He specializes in project documentation, reporting, post-move logistics, and the administration of communications programs. A strong and effective project manager, he consistently delivers superior results through his management of stakeholder communications, design and construction quality assurance, budget control, scheduling, and logistics for satisfied clients.

Roger Patton Janssen

UVA BSArch 1987

Principal, Dailey Janssen Architects, P.A.

West Palm Beach, FL

Roger Patton Janssen leads Dailey Janssen Architects' diverse projects that range from high-end residential projects and recreational facilities to commercial structures and office facilities. Dailey Janssen also specializes in waterfront/oceanfront construction as well as additions and renovations to existing residential and commercial structures. The firm has successfully grown over the years by focusing on one primary goal: a dedication to architectural excellence. Janssen's firm is a full-service architectural firm which pays meticulous attention to detail from the inception of the design through the completion of the construction process. The design criteria, budget and program of clients are the foremost concern of the office. Dailey Janssen Architects takes great pride in ensuring each staff member stays attuned to the newest technologies and code requirements taking place in today’s rapidly changing construction industry. They are able to provide innovative solutions to design issues while never compromising the integrity of the original design intent.

Mark Luellen

President's Representative

Vice President for Advancement

Charlottesville, VA

Mark Luellen was appointed vice president for advancement at the University of Virginia in May 2016. Charged with oversight of the advancement operation, he provides leadership for advancement programs and initiatives across the University, and is responsible for planning and directing the University’s comprehensive, $5 billion dollar philanthropic campaign – Honor the Future – launching in 2019. Luellen works with University, school, and foundation leadership to identify campaign priorities and define fundraising strategies that support the University's mission of teaching, research, clinical care, and public service. He currently serves as the president’s representative on numerous leadership boards, including various University-associated organizations (Architecture, Education, Health, Commerce, and Athletics), and sits on the board of the UVA Foundation.

Luellen has been actively engaged in community and volunteer organizations. He served on the Allegheny College Alumni Council and has been a volunteer or committee member for various community organizations including the Pennsylvania Pink Zone, the YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life effort. He served as vice chair of the 2018 MS Society Dinner of Champions, of which UVA President Teresa Sullivan was honoree. Luellen received his bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in elementary education, from Allegheny College. At Penn State he received a graduate certificate in project management. He and his wife, Beth Ann, and their two daughters reside in Ruckersville, Virginia.

George Keith Martin
BOV Representative

Partner, McGuire Woods LLP

Richmond, VA

George is former managing partner of the McGuire Wood's Richmond office. He practices construction, commercial real estate and local government law. He has represented public and private entities on numerous real estate projects, including construction, acquisition and disposition of real property, and redevelopment and adaptive re-use. His construction practice focuses on representing owners, design professionals, contractors and subcontractors with negotiating and drafting design and construction contracts. He has more than 20 years of experience handling construction-related transactions, including joint ventures, public-private partnerships and project finance transactions. 

Martin has negotiated and drafted numerous construction-related agreements, including design-build, construction, construction management (agency and at-risk), design, program management, project management, and development agreements. He also has extensive experience negotiating and drafting comprehensive development agreements for public-private partnerships and has worked on bond financings to fund construction of those projects. He is also a member of the McGuire Wood's education law team, and has handled numerous education related real estate and construction matters. Throughout his career, Martin has been involved in firm management. He has served on the firm's advisory, pension and recruiting committees.

Sharon Ann (Samm) Miller
UVA BSArch 1986, NYU MS Real Estate; UVA Parent 2018

President, CCO, and Head of Portfolio Management, Hillcrest Finance LLC

New York, NY

Sharon Ann (Samm) Miller joined Hillcrest in 2015 and serves as President and Head of Portfolio Management. In this capacity, she has oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Firm, as well as portfolio management responsibilities for Hillcrest’s investment vehicles. Miller has 30 years of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to joining Hillcrest, Miller was Managing Director at Rockwood Capital where she was responsible for business development, product strategy, capital raising, and investor relations. Previously, Miller held positions with notable real estate investment management firms including Global Managing Director of Trammell Crow Company's Global Services Group, Managing Partner of Investment Strategy with Hart Advisers, Inc., Vice President of Portfolio Management at J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc., Vice President of Marketing and Client Services with O'Connor Capital Partners, and Vice President at TIAA-CREF.

Miller received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Investment, Finance, and Development from New York University. She is a Counselor of Real Estate® and is a member of the Urban Land Institute and the Pension Real Estate Association.

Shelby Pruett

UVA BSArch 1984, Harvard MBA 1987

Chairman and CEO, Capri EGM

Chicago, IL

Shelby Pruett has had a distinguished career in the private equity and real estate investment sectors, becoming highly regarded as one of the key figures in the industry across the United States. Pruett has significant experience as a fund sponsor, owner, operator, and manager and has been instrumental in leading and overseeing the business and investment activities of a number of companies. Pruett is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capri EGM, a leading Chicago based investment manager focused on the build-to-suit, sale-leaseback, and net lease commercial real estate markets. He is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Equity Global Management, a principal-oriented real estate investment firm, and Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Gryffindor Capital Partners, a venture capital firm, all of which are based in Chicago. Prior to co-founding these companies, Pruett was Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Equity Capital Management, LLC, a real estate investment firm and Chairman and Chief Executive officer of ECM Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust, each based in Chicago.

Pruett is highly adept in driving organizations towards exponential growth, profitability, and value creation, and is a trusted board advisor and visionary leader. He is widely quoted throughout the industry and has been recognized by Real Estate Forum as “one of the most influential executives in the business that have helped to shape the industry over the past few decades”. Pruett has also been recognized as a Net Lease Icon, a Chicago Real Estate Icon, and a Net Lease Influencer by Real Estate Forum. Pruett received a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia.

Robert Sponseller, FAIA

Notre Dame BArch, UVA MArch 1992

Design Principal, Shalom Baranes

Washington, D.C.

robert.sponseller@gmail.com

As a design principal, Robert Sponseller has extensive experience in the design, development, and execution of both large and mid-sized mixed-use urban projects in the National Capital Region. With a particular expertise in the mix-use project typology on challenging and often tight urban sites, his designs have received numerous awards both locally and nationally. Sponseller has served in a design review capacity for the District of Columbia Office of Planning regarding the development of some of the most prominent sites in the city. Since joining the firm in 1994, he has been responsible for the design and approvals of over five million square feet of office, residential, and retail space. Sponseller received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia and his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Scott J. Sottile
UVA BArH 2001, Notre Dame MArch 2005

Partner, Ferguson & Shamamian

New York, NY

Growing up in Virginia surrounded by historic buildings and classical American architectural influences, Sottile was determined to have a career in architecture. He earned his Bachelor of Architectural History with a minor in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia and during an intensive two-year internship with the Office of the Architect for the Academical Village, was proud to be involved in the hands-on restoration work of Jefferson’s Lawn Buildings. He received his Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and joined Ferguson & Shamamian in 2005. Some of Sottile’s most recent projects include a new waterfront family compound in Maine, the restoration of an iconic, historic estate in East Hampton, and new houses in California and Florida. Active in community service, he was a member of the Restoration Committee that oversaw a two-year renovation of the historic Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan, a project that won the 2011 Lucy G. Moses Award from The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the 2011 Victorian Society Award. He is also an avid gardener and spends most weekends with his partner and their two whippets in Sag Harbor, NY.

Alexandra (Alex) Valmarana

UVA BArH 1996, University of Bath MSc

Consultant, Peregrine Bryant Architecture and Building Conservation

London, England

British-American architect Alexandra Valmarana has more than 20 years’ experience in architecture and design. She has worked with the London architecture studio, Peregrine Bryant since 1997, where she was a Senior Partner and is now a Consultant. She also sits on the board of several international architecture and design charities, writes articles, and lectures internationally.  She recently starred in the documentary film, Palladio, by Magnitudo.

Valmarana has worked on numerous nationally important properties for both the public and private sector including work for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Crown Estate, National Trust, Landmark Trust, the Governor General of Antigua, and private clients. She was Senior Designer and Project Manager leading projects such as the Royal Astronomical Society at Burlington House, The Royal Hospital Chelsea, Belmont House, The Travellers Club, St. Helen and St. Katherine’s School, as well as many Grade I and II houses and estates.  Her work has taken her across Europe, the United States and the Caribbean, and has included an extensive range of ages and building types – from new build to historic estates, residential to medical and educational sectors, and from 13th century to 21st century buildings. Valmarana designs and manages projects from inception to completion including carrying out feasibility studies, quinquennial and historic structure reports, consents, environmental design and construction management. She particularly enjoys the interaction of technology and innovation in historic structures through sustainable materials, and finding adaptive re-uses without compromising integrity. 

Floyd Worsley, Sr.
UVA BSArch 1990
Project Manager, Steinberg Dickey Collaborative Architects and Engineers
Houston, TX

Floyd Worsley, Sr. is a Houston, Texas-based project manager at Steinberg Dickey Collaborative, LLP providing architectural services from the land planning process through the construction of a project. His projects range from multifamily residential and mixed-use to student and senior housing developments. In addition to his professional background, he previously served as President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Houston, Inc. and Vice-President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. He remains an active alumni member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Worlsey, Sr. holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture with a Minor in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia.

Ex-Officio Members:

Malo André Hutson, Dean of the UVA School of Architecture and Edward E. Elson Professor
John Comazzi, Faculty Representative, Associate Dean of Academics and Associate Professor, Architecture 

Staff liaison:  

Woody Wingfield, UVA Col’ 07, Executive Director, UVA School of Architecture Foundation