Recognizing Dr.
Budziszewski
By Madalo Mtingiza
and Nicole Olinger
Edited by Dr. Cathleen Jones
The RMU Marketing Department is comprised
of many hardworking faculty and staff that do their best to help produce
successful graduates. While professors play a large role by engaging in the
classroom there are many more “behind the scenes” faculty members also making
an impact. Dr. David Budziszewski or “Buda” as many business students know him
is an advisor who’s made a lifelong impact on many young academics. This
semester the two of us, Nicole and Madalo, sat down in an interview with our
old advisor to get to know him a little better. We uncovered interesting
information, valuable advice, and discovered exactly why Buda should be
recognized for the value he adds to the Marketing Department as well as the
School of Business as a whole.
Buda has been in the role of student
advisor for sixteen years. He was also an adjunct professor for four years
prior to this position, which totals to two decades spent working on campus.
However, his association with RMU dates further back to his time spent here as
a student, during which he earned his three degrees. If that isn’t cool enough,
his wife as well as one of his sons, also have degrees from Robert Morris
University. You’d be hard pressed to find someone else with that much
experience with the RMU campus.
If you’re ever interested in getting to
know Buda he can be found walking around campus in the mornings and saying
hello to everyone, non-business students included. This is something done out
of his own preference as a way to begin the day before he gets started on his
routine of answering student questions about their courses, having meetings,
and advising. Always a friendly guy, he
likes to look out for everyone and gives great advice. Both Nicole and Madalo
can attest to his helpfulness as they previously experienced it when they were
lucky enough to be advised by Buda during their freshman year.
In addition to his friendliness, Buda is
known for being approachable and accessible for students of all majors. His
coworkers and superiors also cite him as being very reliable. There is never a
situation that is too difficult for Buda because his strategy is to come at
situations with a sense of humor and then not give up until the question is
answered or the problem is solved.
Buda states that he never thought he’d
end up in his current position when he was a young academic but couldn’t turn
down the offer when the opportunity came. He’s previously worked in the
printing industry and had some military experiences which prepared him for his
job today. One of his biggest sources of success and pride is watching all the
students that he’s met and advised go from unsure freshmen to capable scholars
walking at graduation. He loves hearing back from students and listening to
their success stories.
With this kind of experience and career, Buda
is sure to have valuable wisdom and advice for young professionals. He offered
much advice for careers and job searching including that when one is looking
for jobs, the one thing that should be highlighted on a resume is
interdisciplinary skills. These can often be skills or classes that diversify
you from others competing in the job market. He also believes that students
should have a vision not only for the present but for their future as well.
Since marketing is an ever changing, versatile field Buda does not believe marketing only equates to sales.
In his opinion both quantitative and qualitative concepts should be
brought together to do the best marketing. When questioned about other areas of
marketing that are interesting to him Buda explained that he finds the fact
that marketers are now able to cater their ads specifically to you based on
cookies or search history very interesting.
As fascinating as his career has been,
Buda is also interesting from a personal standpoint. His favorite pastimes
including fishing, tending to his garden, and playing with his three
grandchildren. It became clear to us that he holds his grandchildren near and
dear to his heart as he spoke fondly of them and excitedly mentioned that there
is a fourth on the way. Something special he does for each of his grandchildren
is getting tattoos in their honor. We asked if he’d ever want to be famous for
anything and he thought for a moment before saying “for being such a great dad
and grandfather”. He is one to give back and said that if he were to step out
of his office and find ten million dollars his first step would be to share
some with family and friends, enough that they would be instant millionaires.
Another fun question we asked is his plan
for if he were to end up shipwrecked on a deserted island. Besides food and
water, he would want a good book to keep him occupied as well as some matches
to signal for help, cook food, and stay warm. The last scenario we created
involved Buda going out to dinner and inviting any three people that have ever
existed. He opted for a nice, traditional dinner and selected Jesus Christ,
Albert Einstein, and Gandhi to share a meal with him. Our final question
attempted to uncover any pet peeves or things he couldn't speak as positively about.
Buda admitted to being bothered by students spitting their gum out onto
sidewalks rather than into trash cans. He also expressed disdain for all the
vaping and juuling that goes on on campus. He cited disliking the smoke and his
concern about the long term effects as his reasoning.
On the whole, Buda is a wonderful advisor
that any student can benefit from interacting with. You can ask most business
students about their time with Dr. David Budziszewki, and they’ll likely
express their gratitude for his help as well as their sadness about hearing his
plan to leave in December 2020. Buda admits that he is aging and ready to
retire and so as it’s been said, all good things must come to an end. Though he
will eventually leave, it is obvious that he will always be remembered and
regarded fondly on campus. Buda is a great faculty member that has undoubtedly
made his impact at our school. For anyone who hasn't yet met him but feels
compelled to: do not hesitate! For those who were previously advised or are currently
advised by Dr. Budziszewski: we urge you to pay him a visit in the business
building, and just thank him for any insight or help he’s provided you with. Oh
and don’t forget to grab candy on your way out! He appreciates it if you do.