Madison House is guided by a Board of Directors that brings together University leaders, community members, and students united by a shared commitment to service. The Board helps steer the organization’s mission, offering insight on everything from community partnerships to student engagement. Among its sixteen members are six student representatives who ensure that the undergraduate perspective remains central to Madison House’s work.
These students—Ashwin Durvasula, Abba Kodiaga, Macy Lindblom, Alex Peskin, Leah Rockwell, and Samrath Sandhu—each bring unique experiences and passions to their roles, from leading medical service programs to coaching youth athletics and connecting with local seniors.
We recently caught up with four of the six student board representatives. In the following Q&A, they reflect on their paths to Madison House, the value of student leadership in service, and the impact of connecting UVA with the Charlottesville community.
Q: What is your role on the board? What does it entail?
Macy Lindblom, Madison House Board of Directors and Head Program Director for UVA Health programs
Alex: I am the current Student Co-Chair on the Board of Directors. It entails attending Executive Committee meetings, heading the Programs and Student Experience Committee, and aiding in the facilitation of Board Meetings.
Abba: I serve as a student leader on Madison House’s Board of Directors. I attend meetings once a month as well as provide input on the budget and other Madison House initiatives from the perspective of both a volunteer and a student leader. Outside of that, I am one of the co-Head Program Directors for Athletics, which oversees roughly 100 volunteers and six different athletics programs.
Macy: I am currently a student board member on the Madison House Board of Directors and also the Head Program Director for the UVA Health branch of Medical Services. Responsibilities on the board include attending board meetings and serving as a representative of student voices. There is often lengthy discussion of finances and other administrative matters, so our goal is to highlight the stories of our student volunteers and bring the mission of Madison House to life. As Head Program Director of UVA Health, my role includes leading a team of 40 Program Directors and approximately 500 volunteers.
Samrath: I am a board member and it entails showing up to board meetings, and really just sharing my opinion on things, whether it’s new ideas, potential pitfalls, or just things to keep in mind from a student perspective.
Q: What drew you to Madison House?
Samrath Sandhu, Madison House Board of Directors and Adopt-a-Grandparent Volunteer
Samrath: I started volunteering at Madison House fall semester of my first year. Going into college, I knew I wanted to get involved with the University and the community with service, and that’s when I learned about Madison House. I started volunteering at The Center at Belvedere through Adopt-A-Grandparent.
Alex: I was initially drawn to Madison House because I wanted to find ways to give back to the greater Charlottesville community and find ways to get outside of the classroom. I volunteered with the PVCC Community Gardens program before joining the Board. When I heard about a Board seat opening, I went through the application process at the end of my first year.
Abba: I first joined Madison House in the fall semester of my first year. I ran track in high school and wanted to continue running, so one of my good friends (and high school track captain) encouraged me to volunteer for Girls on the Run. I coached my entire first year, as well as the fall semester of my second year, moving up from volunteer status to being a co-coach in the organization. While my schedule has been difficult to manage alongside training with Girls on the Run, I continued to be involved through my position as Program Director in the spring of my second year. In my third year, I moved up to managing six programs on my own as Head Program Director of Athletics, as well as being a student member of the Board of Directors, which is what I do now as a fourth year!
Q: In your opinion, what makes Madison House’s approach to service distinct from other volunteer organizations at UVA?
Alex Peskin, Co-Chair of the Madison House Board of Directors
Alex: I think the most unique part of Madison House that really sets it apart from other organizations around UVA is the range of service that it's committed to supporting. We have dozens of programs supporting interests that range from pre-med to business to education, and I think it's really special that we were able to house so many different initiatives under the Madison House umbrella.
Abba: Madison House’s approach to service is distinct from other volunteer organizations because it is a one-stop shop, or a hub, filled with thousands of students who are inspired and energetic to be change agents in the Charlottesville community. Further, I believe that Madison House works intentionally to not only train students to be good volunteers, but to be good citizen leaders. We emphasize that volunteering is more than showing up to a shift, and we make volunteering a holistic process through training and meetings regarding how to engage with communities in ethical ways.
Q: What does it mean being a student on the board? Why are these perspectives important?
Abba Kodiaga, Madison House Board of Directors and Head Program Director of Athletics Programs
Abba: Being a student on the Board allows for student self-governance to be practiced in real life. Oftentimes, the University is quick to make decisions on behalf of the student body without the needs and wants of the students inputted with the conversation. If Madison House is to be for the student body, why not have students that are volunteers and interface with the system directly sit in the rooms where big decisions are made? This is what it means to be a student on the Board, and why these perspectives are important.
Samrath: I see being on the board as a way to make sure that the student experience shines through. I’m able to bring up things that peers have brought to my attention. I think this is important because sometimes we forget who we’re impacting with our decisions, and just bringing these student voices ensures that our voices are heard.
Q: What are the Board’s top priorities for this year?
Alex: The Board's top priorities this year are ensuring the student experience at Madison House continues to evolve to the changing landscape around student service, facilitating deeper trust and connection with our community partners, and pursuing initiatives that will allow Madison House to continue to grow within the UVA and Charlottesville communities.
Abba: This year, the Board is focused on strengthening our capacity to be a one-stop-shop for service. We are working hard to improve the student volunteering experience through bolstering access and entry to programs, as well as supporting staff, student leaders and volunteers.
Q: What do you see as the biggest opportunity for Madison House in the future?
Alex: I think the biggest opportunity for Madison House in the future is continuing to expand and grow programs and seek to meet the demand and passion that UVA students have for service.
Q: Finally, what has been your favorite memory with Madison house?
Abba: As someone who works with children a lot through Madison House, I love interacting with the youth and getting to make their days, primarily through play!
Alex: My favorite memory with Madison House was a recent one. We had a Donuts and Coffee event on the lawn to say thank you to current volunteers and meet prospective volunteers for Public Service Week and the event couldn't have gone better. The weather was beautiful, we had a lot of Madison House and Public Service Pathways staff come out, and we got the chance to see a ton of familiar faces while introducing Madison House to some students who weren't familiar but wanted to get involved!
Samrath: If I had to choose, it would have to be the yarn circles on Wednesday mornings at The Center at Belvedere. I loved hearing stories from the women around me and they shared so many insightful outlooks on life.
By Cecilia Murphy