Rich Parella
PO Box 400308
Booker House
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Rich Parella serves as the Senior Advisor in Enrollment, where he strengthens Enrollment’s organizational performance and supports the success of its students and colleagues.
Full Bio
In his role, Mr. Parella collaborates with Enrollment’s senior leadership team to foster a high-performing and inclusive culture, guide professional development initiatives, and advance key organizational priorities. He also acts as a representative and thought partner to the Vice Provost for Enrollment, contributing to strategic planning and decision-making in support of the Enrollment mission.
Mr. Parella joined UVA in 2020 as a Senior HR Business Partner for the Executive Vice President and Provost and later transitioned to Director, HR Service for the School of Medicine. In the latter role, he led strategic HR initiatives that aligned with the goals of UVA Health, UVA School of Medicine, and the University’s HR organization.
With over a decade of experience in higher education, Mr. Parella previously served as Assistant Director and later Director of Human Resources at Virginia Military Institute, where he oversaw all aspects of HR operations. Before his career in higher education, Mr. Parella served nearly ten years as a U.S. Navy pilot.
Originally from Massachusetts, Mr. Parella holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in business administration from The George Washington University.