John Braley (ARCH ’92)

John graduated from the School of Architecture in 1992 and has been a resident of New York and active member of the club over the years since moving to the city in 1999 for business school at NYU – all the while staying in close contact with fellow Wahoos from his home base in Chelsea.  Today, John is the vice president of business development for the health & wellness technology company, Delos.

John has served as a Virginia Club of New York Board Member for the past 3 years and has actively participated in several club committees and events over time, such as Grants, Hoos Hungry, the “Hoos in the Know?” panel series, and has enjoyed recent welcome events for newly admitted students and those graduating and moving to New York.

John’s goals for Virginia Club of New York include the continuation of his support for incredible programming already in place and building on the important philanthropic work of the Club.

James Bright (COMM ’17)

James graduated from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce in 2017 with concentrations in Finance, Management, and Real Estate. While at UVA, James served as the player-coach for the Men’s Club Lacrosse team and treasurer for the Chi Phi fraternity. James lives in New York City where he is working on his startup, Hyde Belt Company, a clothing accessory e-commerce brand focused on belts. James also works in Real Estate for ASG Equities, a family office investment firm. James enjoys sailing, water sports, and DIY projects (candle making, furniture woodworking, etc) and he also serves on the planning committee for the Hoos in Entrepreneurship Community of Interest.

Chris Casscells (COMM ’06)

Chris graduated from UVA from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2006. He has been a very active member of the Club since 2011, and on the Board since 2013. Chris served as the Club President from 2018 – 2020.

He’s a regular at Virginia Club events, including lectures, Cavs Care, Wahoo Wednesdays, game watches, and more. He enjoys spending time with fellow Hoos in any setting and is always encouraging participation in Club events.  His favorite Virginia Club event is the Holiday Party.

Chris was the Giving Co-Chair for his 10 year UVA reunion in 2016. He’s a regular on the squash courts at the Yale Club and serves on the Yale Club’s Athletics Committee. He also volunteers his time for the Beta-Iota Scholarship Foundation, where he sits on the Selection Committee. The Foundation gives merit-based financial aid to students in need. 

Chris is a Vice President in the Business Development at Fox News Channel / Fox Business Network, where he has worked for the past 13 years. He currently sits on the Board of Directors at TrustX – a premium supply-side platform formed through the Digital Content Next trade association – alongside members from NBC, Meredith, ESPN, and CBS. 

Juliana Echeverri (CLAS ’14 & BATTEN ’15) 

Upon graduating from UVA’s Batten School in 2015 with her Master’s in Public Policy, Juliana moved to New York to serve as the Virginia Club’s Executive Director. Throughout her time at the Virginia Club, she helped launch the Hoos Hungry Community of Interest and the Grants Committee. Her favorite events are panels that highlight our amazing alumni community and community service outings. She currently serves as Vice President of the Board and Chair of the Hoos Hungry Community of Interest.

Kate Sommi Edmondson (CLAS ’19)

Kate Sommi Edmondson graduated UVA in 2019 with a Bachelors in Foreign Affairs from The College. After graduation, Kate returned to her native New Jersey and began work at the Interactive Advertising Bureau, the IAB, in Manhattan as part of its Learning and Development team. Kate was introduced to the IAB while attending a Virginia Club of New York event! Kate saw an opportunity for unparalleled networking and growth with the Virginia Club of New York and began attending as many events as she could. This quickly evolved into a deep sense of camaraderie with other members and enthusiasm for the club. She promptly joined the events committee, and has enjoyed working behind the scenes. Her favorite event so far has been volunteering at the New York Marathon!

Originally recruited to UVA as a coxswain on the women’s rowing team, Kate maintains a deep love for athletics. When she is not finding ways to be active herself, Kate enjoys cheering on the Hoos whenever she can, particularly during lacrosse season. Her senior year, she was fortunate to experience both the men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse teams win their respective National Championships; the perfect way to end her time on the grounds.

Dylan Fogarty (CLAS ’15 & COMM ’16)

Dylan Fogarty graduated from College of Arts & Sciences in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Economics, then returned to receive an M.S. in Commerce degree from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2016. During his time at the University, Dylan held leadership positions on Class Council and Trustees, Hoo Crew, Lighting of the Lawn Committee, First Year Players, and Project SERVE. He was an employee (and Elite member) at The Virginian Restaurant and a graphic design intern for Virginia Athletics. Dylan currently serves as co-chair for the Virginia Club of New York’s Membership & Marketing Committee as well as the Club’s Co-Treasurer.

Dylan relocated from his home in Virginia to experience the hustle and bustle of New York City in 2016. He previously was a Managing Partner at a digital & data education company, Decoded, but now works for a start-up in the higher education space, Rize Education, which helps smaller liberal art institutes provide newer and more competitive programs. When not working, he enjoys traveling, reading, and drinking coffee. You can easily find him at American Whiskey for a UVA game watch or as an active participant in our UVA community book club.

Azeezah Goodwin (LAW ’16) 

Azeezah Goodwin (she/her) graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2016. At UVA Law, she served as an editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law and 1L Representative on the Black Law Student Association.

Azeezah has enjoyed being a member of the Virginia Club Events Committee for the past year. She loves participating in the virtual events offered by the Club (notably the cross-stitch class, cookie decorating, and beverage tastings).

Azeezah is a wellness blogger (www.laviedezee.com) and NY-barred attorney. During her spare time, she enjoys swimming, reading, trying out vegan recipes, and getting spa treatments. She is excited to become more involved in the Hoos community.

Justine Gozzi (ENGR ‘04)  

Joshua G. Holmes (CLAS ’01) 

Joshua G. Holmes currently serves as Co-Treasurer of the Virginia Club Board of Directors. Upon completion of his term as President in 2014, the Board reelected him Treasurer. He is also a member of Yale Club governance – serving as an observer on the Membership & Marketing Committee. He also contributes to multiple committees & groups, including: Hoos Hungry, Book Club, Events, and Grants. Joshua’s first introduction to the Club came through softball in Central Park; you will still find him in orange socks at shortstop co-captaining our team on most summer Sundays.

Joshua spends his days supporting roughly 270 charter schools across all five boroughs for the NYC Department of Education. Previously, he served as a Policy Advisor for Senator Cory A. Booker while he was Mayor of the City of Newark, New Jersey. While in Newark, he received his Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers-Newark. Prior to joining government, Joshua worked in the publishing industry; his final stop within the industry was at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), where he primarily focused on the circulation of its stalwart publication, Foreign Affairs.

Michael Ihrig II (CLAS ’06)

Andrew Kirwin (CLAS ’88)

Andrew Kirwin graduated from the University of Virginia in 1988 with a BA in History and received his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City in 1992.  Andrew has helped guide the Virginia Club as a Board Member since the mid 90s.  As one of the first Virginia alumni to join the clubhouse, Andrew has helped us sustain a healthy relationship with the Yale Club. Andrew currently serves as a Vice President of the Board and runs the Virginia Club’s monthly Business Forum Networking Breakfasts.  Beginning in 2011, he has helped pilot the Club’s partnership with College Bound Initiative, an organization that places college guidance counselors in underserved schools in the New York City region.  Andrew is also a committee member of the Glenn D. Kirwin Scholarship which supports a scholarship at the University of Virginia that honors his brother Glenn D. Kirwin.  Glenn was a 1982 graduate of the University who lost his life in the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The scholarship is awarded annually to one or more  third or fourth year students whose character and involvement in University life most resemble Glenn’s. 

Christian Lang (CLAS ’04)

EricaJoy “EJ” Oliverio (CLAS ’17)

EJ graduated from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2017 with a degree in English & Media Studies. During her undergraduate career, she was an active member of University Programs Council (UPC) and Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Following graduation, EJ served as the Virginia Club’s Executive Director from 2017-2019. Her favorite memories from her term include hosting President Ryan and Coach Bennett at the Yale Club and watching the Hoos’ first NCAA championship win at American Whiskey. She continues to serve NYC Hoos as the co-chair of Admissions and Membership & Marketing committees. Her favorite events are Mr. Jefferson’s Holiday Party, Hoos Headed to New York, and Book Club. 

EJ currently works as an Assistant Director of Alumni Programs at NYU. In her free time, she can be found reading, cooking, or exploring Brooklyn, one craft fair or coffee shop at a time. 

Julia Pedrick (CLAS ’15, COMM ’16)

Julia Pedrick graduated from UVA in 2015 with a B.A. in Psychology and Studio Art (sculpture). She then went on to attend the M.S. in Commerce graduate program at the McIntire School of Commerce, focusing in Marketing & Management. During her time at UVA, Julia was active in Fraternity and Sorority Life, serving at the President of the Inter-Sorority Council, as well as an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She was also an avid participant in the arts on grounds, serving as a docent at the Fralin Museum of Art and an active member of the sculpture community. 

After 5 years on grounds, Julia moved to New York City to work in social and digital advertising. After a few years at small agencies, in May 2019, Julia began her own freelance strategy business. She has been working freelance ever since, and has enjoyed building partnerships with a variety of start-up and established marketing clients. Outside of work, Julia has really enjoyed the UVA community in NYC, especially the STUDIO committee. She is the Co-Chair for STUDIO and loves setting up group events for others to experience art outside of their day-to-day activities. She also loves the Virginia Club of New York’s social events, such as the Holiday Party, game watches, New Student events, and many more.

Sarah Raymond (CLAS ’06 & DARDEN ’12)

Sarah is a Double ‘Hoo and native New Yorker who has been involved in the Club since finding the softball team while still an undergrad. You can still find her on the field most summer Sundays, now as a co-captain. Sarah is currently enjoying a sabbatical after steering Context Travel through the pandemic as COO. She currently serves as the 2022-2024 President of the Virginia Club and is perpetually considering the question of what to eat for her next meal.

Bradley Scharff (CLAS ’82)

Brad Scharff graduated from UVA in 1982 with a double major in Psychology and English. While at UVA, Brad served in many roles at the Cavalier Daily, including as Features Editor, Associate Sports Editor, and Photographer. He still has his press passes from covering the Hoos Men’s Basketball team in the 1982 NCAA Tournament. Brad’s many hours spent in the Newcomb Hall offices of the CD convinced him that publishing was the right place for his career path.

Brad is a founding donor of the newly established Cavalier Daily Endowment Fund with the UVA Alumni Association that will ensure the continued success of student journalism on Grounds. He currently serves as a member of the Events Committee of the Virginia Club of New York and is an active member of several UVA Alumni LinkedIn groups. As a native New Yorker who was born in Manhattan, UVA and Charlottesville were the only places that have ever drawn Brad further than 20 miles from NYC for more than a vacation.

Brad is currently the principal of BMS Management Consulting, LLC, focusing on media organizations. He was previously Director of Finance at Time Inc where he led a team responsible for the expenses related to printing and distributing all 27 domestic magazines for the publisher.

Anthony Simasek (CLAS ’08)

Anthony graduated from UVA in 2008 with a major in Economics. As an undergrad he served as captain and President of the UVA Men’s Rugby Team, was an active member of the University Guide Service, and founded a 501(c)3 charity with his fraternity (Sigma Nu). While living in Pittsburgh, Anthony served as the Young Alumni Chair for UVA Club of Pittsburgh and has joined the Virginia Club of New York as Co-Chair of the Hoos in Entrepreneurship Community of Interest and the 2022-2024 Secretary.

Upon graduating from UVA, Anthony moved to Pittsburgh to work for BNY Mellon for 8 years before joining a startup fintech firm out of London. In 2016, after helping to grow the fintech firm from 8 employees to 30+, he left to pursue his lifelong passion of becoming a chef and running restaurants. For the last 4 years he worked for Hillstone Restaurant Group as Executive Chef and General Manager at their NYC locations. Recently he left Hillstone to combine his love of hospitality with his finance and technology background and founded his own startup hospitality technology company, Hospitality Innovations. Anthony lives in Midtown with his wife and dog and can usually be found on running along either river, training for his next marathon.

Clare Spooner (CLAS ’14)

Margo Swomley (CLAS ’16)

Margo graduated with a B.A. from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2016 with a major in History, minor in Religious Studies, and certification of completion from the McIntire Business Institute. During her time at UVA, Margo was active in various aspects of University life. She is a Class of 2016 Trustee, where, while at UVA, she sat on the Executive Board as the Inner Trustees Social Chair and was a member of the Career and Alumni Relations Committee. Margo also played for the Women’s Club Lacrosse team and acted as the Fundraising Chair for two seasons. Finally, Margo served as the Co-Chair of Transfer Student Peer Advisers, working closely with the Office of Orientation and New Student Programs to help transfer students better assimilate into University life. Of course, she was regularly seen at JPJ or Scott Stadium cheering on the Hoos!

After graduation, Margo moved to New York City to work for Barclays Investment Bank. In 2019, she had the opportunity to move to London with Barclays and jumped at the chance to live abroad. Moving to a new country was exciting! Upon arrival, she immersed herself in events with the UVA Club of London and met a number of fellow alumni. After 2.5 years abroad, Margo moved back to NYC and is currently a Vice President at Barclays. She continues to appreciate the importance of the UVA community on both a personal and professional level. Whether it is attending the Holiday Party, going to watch parties, or listening to lectures by Professors at the Yale Club, she’s looking forward to continuing to enhance the social and professional alumni network.

Amelia Wald (CLAS ’19)

Amelia graduated with High Distinction from the College of Arts and Science in 2019 with a major in History. At UVA, Amelia was an Orientation Leader, Resident Advisor, sister of Alpha Delta Pi, and student researcher with the Nau Center for Civil War History. She is currently a Class of 2019 Trustee and serves as co-chair of the College Agents for the College Foundation at the University of Virginia.

Amelia served as the 2019 – 2021 Executive Director of the Virginia Club of New York. During her term, Amelia oversaw the Club’s transition to virtual events as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. While weathering the pandemic in lower Manhattan, she found hope in the nightly 7:00 pm cheers from her fire escape and in the strength of the UVA alumni community – even over Zoom! Her favorite Virginia Club events include faculty lectures, soup kitchen volunteering, apple picking, and, of course, the Holiday Party.

Amelia has continued to serve NYC Wahoos as Events Committee co-chair. She is a Customer Success Associate at Dataminr, supporting the AI-start-up’s public sector clients.

Mark Weber (CLAS ’91)

Mark Weber has been an active part of the Virginia Club of New York’s Board of Directors for over a decade and tries to help in whatever way is needed. Most of his efforts have been organizing community service events and summer softball in Central Park, but he is often caught lending a hand along with good spirit for various other Club events including the annual Mr. Jefferson’s Holiday Party, during which he organizes the Winter Coat Drive. Mark is currently the Co-Chair of both the Community Service and Grants committee, a group that organizes an average of two volunteer opportunities per month. He has an MBA in Health Care Administration and in his day job manages development of medical software and databases for 3M Health Information Systems. Wahoowa!

Lorna Zhen (CLAS ’07)

Lorna Zhen graduated from UVA in 2007 with a B.A. in History and Economics and a minor in Art History. Following Charlottesville, she attended law school at Boston University School of Law, graduating in 2010. After spending a hippie year in Oregon, Lorna moved to New York City in 2011. She currently serves as a Senior Supervising Attorney for the New York Legal Assistance Group, representing domestic violence victims in divorce and family litigation in New York City.

As a Board Member for the Virginia Club of New York for the past ten years and the 2020-2022 President, Lorna helped found the new Hoos Hungry Affinity group which has organized restaurant and food tasting and cooking events. Her favorite Virginia Club events include Admitted Students Social, Hoos New to New York, the Spring Party, and the Holiday Party. Lorna spends her free time illustrating, experimenting with recipes, visiting museums, and turning her apartment into a greenhouse.

2021 – 2023 Executive Director

Lydia McVeigh (CLAS ’21)

Lydia graduated from the College in 2021, where she majored in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law and minored in History. At UVA, Lydia had leadership roles on the University Judiciary Committee, the Moot Court team, and in the Jefferson Scholars Foundation.

As Executive Director of the Virginia Club, Lydia works full-time for the Club, managing membership recruitment and retention and executing the Club’s slate of programming, alongside her wonderful team of Board Members. Her favorite event thus far has been heading down to Charlottesville in April of 2022 for the “Hoos Headed to New York” weekend, where she got to meet current students interested in moving to the city!

In her free time, she loves trying new restaurants, going for runs, planning travel, and fashion.