Jordan Silberg, '13

Jordan Silberg, ’13, is one of few Robins School of Business students who have not made plans to join an industry organization after graduation. Instead, Silberg is looking forward to attending the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa., in the fall where he plans to earn an MD and ultimately pursue a residency in Ophthalmology. As a business administration and economics student, Silberg has also focused his studies on science at the University of Richmond, fulfilling the pre-medical curriculum as well.

“I have always enjoyed walking from the Gottwald Science Building into the Robins School and getting the chance to experience a new group of people,” he said. “Richmond made it possible to pursue a wide range of interests during my time here. My studies consisted largely of business courses, but I also took a variety of classes in the sciences. This provided me a well-rounded business and liberal arts education that will serve me well the rest of my life and has provided me with a solid base for my medical training.”

Having had an interest in studying economics since high school, Silberg’s uncle suggested he stop by Richmond while on an east coast college tour. “He knew that I was looking for a small liberal arts college that had a strong business school, and Richmond fit the bill. After visiting campus I could tell the teaching quality was of the highest caliber, and the small class sizes would offer direct access to the professors. The economic department’s well-deserved and accurate recognition was also a large draw,” he said.

While at Richmond, Silberg has enjoyed experiences that have allowed him to explore his interests and develop a variety of skills. Among them is a summer internship in the Washington, D.C., office of Congressman Charlie Dent, where he experienced the inner workings of a political office by answering calls from constituents, researching litigation and learning to interact with coworkers. He also had the opportunity to spend two summers at Richmond as a biochemistry researcher studying DNA and genome mutations, going on to present his findings at the Southeastern Regional Meeting for the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) and being published in the Chemical Research in Toxicology Journal.

“I pursued internships in fields beyond business, but the resources at the Robins School will be instrumental in my future career,” Silberg said. “By graduating with a degree from a top undergraduate business school, I was differentiated before I even arrived at my interview. I could then use the skills I learned at the Robins School to succeed in the interview itself.”

One of the courses Silberg credits in particular is adjunct instructor of management Patti Carey’s business communications course. “I remember starting the course with some anxiety about speaking in front of people, but Patti made all the activities engaging and enjoyable enough for the introverts, like me, to feel comfortable. This course helped me prepare for interviews and build the groundwork for public speaking and communicating effectively in future scenarios,” he said.

Silberg will be finishing up his year as the president of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society, and enjoying activities around campus with his peers. In the far future, he has hopes to own his own Ophthalmology practice or possibly manage a small hospital. “I always knew that I would be happiest in a medical career, but I love having the opportunity to integrate my business background and interests into that as well,” he said.