David DuBois, '13

Senior David DuBois came to the University of Richmond with his mind set on studying business. However, DuBois quickly realized he did not want to sacrifice a liberal arts education in the process. Declaring a PPEL major, DuBois has had the opportunity to study philosophy (P), politics (P), economics (E) and law (L), providing him with an integrated, interdisciplinary academic experience, a hallmark of a Richmond education.

DuBois’ classes can be found in several buildings throughout campus, but having selected an economics concentration and a business administration minor, he spends most of his time in the Robins School of Business. In his sophomore year DuBois experienced a turning point when he attended one of the Robins School’s signature programs, Q-Camp. “I stopped just taking classes and focused on real-world application. I was surrounded by my peers who are focused and have competitive natures, and realized I need to prepare for my future,” he said.

During Q-Camp, DuBois networked and established several connections, one of which was with Dr. Doug Bosse, associate professor of management. “Since initially meeting Dr. Bosse, I have met with him once or twice every few weeks. He became my mentor,” DuBois said. “Something in our early conversations really clicked for me, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career in consulting. Dr. Bosse told me about his experience in the industry, and that solidified my interest even more.”

DuBois has since taken several courses which allow him to think in different and creative ways, including Consulting Practicum. Dr. Bosse, in conjunction with Dean Nancy Bagranoff and Dr. Jonathan Whitaker, teach the course which DuBois describes as “one of the most difficult classes but also one of the most rewarding.”

He has also held two internships that have expanded his knowledge and allowed real-world application of his skills. For two summers, DuBois worked at Maximus, a health and human services government consulting firm, where he worked in the legal department. “I conducted a lot of risk analysis, contract negotiation and other duties on the legal team,” he said. He held his second internship while studying abroad in Brussels, Belgium, at Laffineur Law Firm, conducting case law research and studying European Union legislation. During this time he also developed a billing and classification system after analyzing seven years’ worth of records, a system that the law firm still uses today.

DuBois has also spent a lot of time in Richmond’s Office of Alumni and Career Services (OACS) as a student employee. While there, he has been exposed to all the opportunities available to students on campus and learned the immense value of networking. “Working at OACS the past three years has made me very career-oriented. I have received so much valuable advice through my work and the people I have met,” DuBois said.

“I have strong opinions about the value of networking because of my own experience. I would tell all underclassmen to not be afraid to send that email or make that phone call, because someone is always willing to help you, especially Richmond alumni. Take all the opportunities Richmond offers and run with them,” he said.

DuBois’ own relationship with an alumnus gave him an advantage when interviewing for FTI Consulting, an international business advisory firm, where DuBois was offered a position and will begin working in the organization’s Washington, D.C., office this August.

“I will miss Richmond’s professors the most,” he said. “They are so accessible that sometimes you forget they are leaders in their field.” However, he is looking forward to establishing a new home in D.C. and taking advantage of all the city offers. “It’s exciting that I will be working in a place where people from all over the world travel to see. I feel like I’ll be at the center of the universe.”