As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2020, Matthew Groum from Wilmington, 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.
Groum was nominated for this series by UD assistant professor of economics and associate chair for undergraduate programs Elizabeth Bayley, who said, “Matt is an outstanding Blue Hen! He has excelled academically, taking challenging classes both in and outside his major requirements, as well as contributing to the UD campus and community. To name a few, Matt has been actively involved in both the Biden Institute and UDance Executive Board and has volunteered on political campaigns. He is also finishing in three years!”
In this profile, Groum, an economics 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?
Groum: From my freshman year to now, I think that I’ve grown more optimistic about the possibilities of changing things that I once thought were impossible to change. I am more likely to question why our systems of society work the way that they work and push for change. This is due to professors and fellow classmates who pushed me to rethink the impossible.
Q: What is your favorite place at UD?
Groum: My favorite place on UD’s campus is the third floor of Morris Library. It has been my refuge since freshman year. Anytime that I needed to get a paper written or study for a really hard test, Club Morris was always there! It is one of the places on campus where I could truly be alone with just my thoughts.
Q: What is the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Groum: My most memorable Lerner course was definitely my Intermediate Microeconomic Theory course with Professor Michael Arnold. Dr. Arnold pushed us to think beyond the questions in our textbooks and to instead consider the real-world applications of economic theory. I also appreciated his quick wit and ability to always make our class laugh, even when we were nervous about getting our exams back. My fellow classmates also supported me and pushed me to excel and I am incredibly grateful for all of them.
Q: What was your favorite signature UD experience?
Groum: My favorite UD experience would have to be homecoming because it was the time when the alumni brothers of Delta Sigma Pi, the official co-ed business fraternity of the Lerner College, would return to visit and spend time with me and the other active brothers. Homecoming was a reminder of the Blue Hen spirit of camaraderie that existed within Delta Sigma Pi and I hope to return every year to celebrate the accomplishments of Delta Sigma Pi brothers in the Lerner College.
Q: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Groum: Being a Lifelong Lerner to me means that I have a responsibility to help those new members of our Lerner community through mentorship and providing the resources that I have available. It means that I must do well in my career to set a good reputation for the future graduates of this college.
Q: What are your plans following graduation?
Groum: After graduation, I am looking to work on one of the various political campaigns for the 2020 election. In the near future, I hope to move to Washington, DC to work on the economic issues that have inspired me to action in the classroom here at UD.