As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2020, Bret Melba from Newark, Delaware has not had the typical final semester or commencement at UD due to the coronavirus outbreak. He, and his entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered.
Melba was nominated for this series by UD Assistant Professor of management Shubha Patvardhan, who said, “Bret was always well-prepared and highly participative all through the three-hour class!“
In this profile, Melba, a business management major, shared his favorite UD memories, how he has changed during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.
Q: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Melba: I believe that I have matured a lot. I used to wonder what I was going to do with my life and how I was going to get there. I am now much more certain on what I would like to do with my future. Overall, I believe college taught me how to be independent and responsible.
Q: What is your favorite place at UD?
Melba: My favorite place at UD was the apartment I lived in with my best friends. It was on North College and I had so much fun there. After a long day of classes, it was always the best place to go and relax.
Q: What is the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Melba: The most memorable class I took was definitely BUAD 441, Strategic Management. It was a capstone course and it taught me a lot about the business world and how to understand why businesses make certain decisions. The course taught me how to share my ideas and gave me experiences I will use for the rest of my life.
Q: What was your favorite signature UD experience?
Melba: My favorite UD experience is when I traveled abroad to Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. I had an absolutely amazing experience and it truly was life-changing. I got to see sights I had never imagined and meet all kinds of people. It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Q: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Melba: Being a Lifelong Lerner means that I will always have the experiences with me that I learned in the Lerner College. I learned skills and knowledge that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Q: What are your plans following graduation?
Melba: My initial plan after school is to apply for a job at a local BMW dealership. My goal in life is to open up my own performance car shop, and to do this I need to get experience in the field. I love BMWs and that is why I would like to work there right after graduation.