Madison House Programs, UVA Students
Madison House
Get Involved with Madison House at UVA

Whether you're passionate about health care, education, environmental sustainability, or animal welfare, Madison House offers a wide range of programs to match your interests. Discover how to become a volunteer in one of our programs!

Get Involved with Madison House at UVA
Volunteer Stories, UVA Students
Madison House
Student Leadership: Chelsea Li

As a first year at the University of Virginia (UVA), Chelsea Li (CLAS ‘20) wanted to soak up all the opportunities that the University had to offer. She found herself exploring new clubs and classes and was especially eager to be in the community. “In high school,” she said, “I felt as if I was missing a lot of the learning that happens outside the classroom.” This desire to stretch her curiosity across disciplines and interests, along with an intrinsic desire to uplift those around her, was what first brought Chelsea to Madison House.

Student Leadership: Chelsea Li
Alumni, Volunteer Stories, Student Athletes
Madison House
Olympic Silver Medalist Paige Madden’s Madison ...

The House has long been a place where students can come to find or rediscover themselves and their place within the community. This held true for Paige, who shared that “it gives me peace of mind knowing that I am a good swimmer but that's not what defines me. There's so much more to life, like helping others. My time at Madison House has allowed me to see that.”

Olympic Silver Medalist Paige Madden’s Madison House Experience
COVID-19, UVA Students
Madison House
Madison House Youth Mentoring Volunteer ...

Kruse, from Ridgeland, Mississippi, is a fourth-year student in the McIntire School of Commerce. She initially got involved in the program because of her prior experience in advocacy work.

“Ultimately, the goal of the program is for students to learn about environmental science through a native lens,” Kruse said. “Maelee Hearington, another UVA student, and I wrote the curriculum to focus on science, social activism and social justice. We also provide additional resources like workbooks, markers, easels and notebooks.”

Madison House Youth Mentoring Volunteer Inspires Native American Youth Through Science
COVID-19, UVA Students
Madison House
Hoos Helping (Virtually!)

On March 11, 2020, all Madison House in-person volunteering was suspended in an effort to slow the emergence of COVID-19. Shortly after, a Spring Action Team headed by Madison House student volunteers Simmy Bhatia, Caroline Hallowell, and Mikaela Rirchardson worked in coordination with Dr. Rose Cole, the Madison House Director of Community Engagement, to begin developing a virtual volunteering initiative called "Hoos Helping."

Hoos Helping (Virtually!)

Madison House Board of Directors

Meet Student Representatives on the Madison House Board of Directors

Meet Student Representatives on the Madison House Board of Directors

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. Learn more about them!

UVA Alumnae Suzanne Lynn '93 and Neha Pai '25 Co-Chair the Madison House Board of Directors

UVA Alumnae Suzanne Lynn '93 and Neha Pai '25 Co-Chair the Madison House Board of Directors

Madison House is a volunteer organization connecting students from the University of Virginia (UVA) with the surrounding community, plays a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of UVA students and impacting the broader Charlottesville community. Two key voices on its Board of Directors, Suzanne Lynn ‘93 and Neha Pai ‘25, serve as co-chairs of the Board of Directors, bringing a passion for service and commitment to enhancing the organization.

Madison House Appoints New Executive Director

Madison House Appoints New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of Madison House, the independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia, is pleased to announce that Mary Denlinger has been named the organization’s new Executive Director. With a wealth of experience in community engagement and a passion for student development, Mary brings a dynamic vision to further enhance the impact and reach of Madison House within both the University of Virginia and the surrounding community.

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WHAT MAKES FOR A SUCCESSFUL UVA STUDENT? VETERAN PROFESSOR WEIGHS IN AS CLASSES BEGIN

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WHAT MAKES FOR A SUCCESSFUL UVA STUDENT? VETERAN PROFESSOR WEIGHS IN AS CLASSES BEGIN

I am always impressed with the intellectual curiosity of so many of my students. But, I am also impressed at how many appreciate their good fortune, gifts and talents and feel determined to share them with those who are less fortunate. Over the years, more and more of my students share with me their plans to seek humanitarian careers.

Also, as a board member, and now the co-chair of the Madison House, I have been impressed by the number of students who dedicate themselves to a number of community programs, while juggling a rigorous academic load.

A new venture: Former UVA faculty, Madison House board member invests in future of volunteer service

A new venture: Former UVA faculty, Madison House board member invests in future of volunteer service

“I saw a picture on the front page of The Daily Progress of UVA students camped out in the rain waiting to sign up to volunteer at Madison House,” Karin remembers. “It was so far beyond anything that I understood about students. It was amazing.”