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.