Admissions Q&A: Meet Marcy Bernabei

Marcy Bernabei recently joined UVA McIntire’s Graduate Marketing & Admissions team. With her colleague Pamela (whom you met last week), Marcy supports prospective MSBA students and is based at Sands Family Grounds in Rosslyn, alongside our Darden partners.

Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Role: Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions & Recruiting

What is your background?

I graduated from undergrad in 2017 from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a degree in Event and Meeting Management. Initially, I wanted to become a wedding planner, but soon realized I was not passionate about the field. During college, I worked in retail and became a Regional Trainer for Francesca’s after college. In 2020, I started my career in higher education, working remotely in admissions at an edtech company that partnered with the University of California, Berkeley. I was in that position for three years before accepting the role at McIntire!

What led you to this role?

As I researched my next career move at the end of 2022, I knew I wanted to stay in higher education, working with professional students. I also knew I wanted to transition into a more in-person role so that I could build relationships face-to-face and start to build a network in the DC/NOVA area. In the Assistant Director role at McIntire, I found everything I was searching for in my next position and was excited to apply and accept.

What do you enjoy about working with professional students?

What I love the most about working with professional students is their passion. This population of students really wants to make a change in their lives, whether that applies to their career, moving up within their current company, or gaining a new skill to bring to work each week. It is also inspiring to see them balance work, school, and personal commitments.

What is your best piece of advice for prospective students?

My best piece of advice for a prospective student is to be involved in the process. Whether that is attending an information session or just scheduling a consultation with us. It makes the application process much smoother and is a great way for us to connect a face with an application. It not only helps you by learning more about the program but also adds value to your application and why you want to pursue the program.

What is one fun fact about you?

I have a dog named Maverick, not named after the movie! He is a chihuahua/terrier mix and is three years old. He loves to be held like a baby and play ball, and the beach is his happy place.

What is something you are currently watching/reading/listening to?

I am listening to Taylor Swift and seeing her in Denver in July—I am so excited! I am currently watching “Firefly Lane” on Netflix and am reading articles on how to keep my plants alive.

What are you looking forward to in the summer months?

I am looking forward to going to the beach this summer. This will be my first summer on the East Coast, and I am thrilled to be so close to the ocean! I can’t wait to do all the summer activities like going to the pool, paddleboarding, and playing tennis. I want to try crabbing this summer too!