Distinguished Alumnae Award

The 2008 Distinguished Alumna Award Winner

Christine Gustafson

Christine P. Gustafson
College '82

Distinguished Alumna Day with Christine Gustafson
Friday, April 18

Christine Gustafson’s philosophy—that it’s important to pair professional success in the for-profit world with service in the nonprofit sector—was birthed during her student years at U.Va., and is among the reasons that the U.Va. Women’s Center selected her as its 16th Distinguished Alumna.

Gustafson is a senior vice president for UBS Financial in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to this position she worked at Morgan Stanley for thirteen years. She has twenty-two years experience in the securities industry and specializes in wealth management for high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and charitable foundations. She received her BA in international business and finance in 1982 and has stayed active as a volunteer for the College since joining the Alumni Council in 1989. Ms. Gustafson helped found the College Foundation in 2001 and served as its first president. For the past nine years she has served as a director of the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO) overseeing the University’s $4 billion endowment. She is a member of the UVIMCO’s Executive Committee.

Ms. Gustafson also works with numerous civic and charitable groups in Arizona. She has been a member of the Raven Society, the American Heart Association, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), and Trends Charitable Foundation. She has served on the boards of the Super Bowl XLII Host Committee, U.Va. Capital Campaign’s Executive Committee, and was chair of U.Va.’s National Campaign Kickoff Gala Dinner.

Raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Ms. Gustafson ventured west to Arizona in 1983. She and her husband, David, reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona with their two children, Piper (17) and Grant (12).

The UVAToday article, with more background, is here.

The Women's Center Distinguished Alumna Award was established in 1991 to recognize an accomplished female graduate of the University of Virginia who has demonstrated excellence, leadership and extraordinary commitment to her field, and who has used her talents as a positive force for change. Each year, we celebrate the honoree's accomplishments with the community via a Distinguished Alumna Lecture and public reception.

Our past honorees may be found on this page.