For Alex and David Vandenberg, the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business PhD program is like an extended family. The brothers enrolled in the PhD program, focusing their studies on accounting. Alex (PhD ’24) started in 2019 and his brother David (PhD ’29) joined this fall.
Coming from a family of educators, both brothers decided to pursue the highest degree available. Alex’s research ambitions include studying manager and investor judgment on accounting-related matters. David says he gained some familiarity with the accounting field through his older brother.
Faculty Guidance
Alex and David chose this program based on the faculty. They were excited about the opportunities for research with accounting faculty members. “During the admissions process, I was struck by the faculty’s brilliance and kindness, and I remember thinking to myself that it would be a privilege to learn from them,” says Alex.
David says, despite his familial tie, he has received no special treatment from faculty and those in the PhD office. He says, “I certainly have benefited from Alex’s experiences. While I am grateful for his support, I feel that everyone I’ve interacted with has been helpful and encouraging.”
The PhD community is a small, but tight-knit group, which appealed to the Vandenbergs. The program forges deep connections between faculty and the student cohort. As Alex explains, “I had so many amazing interactions with the students and faculty at Pitt, and I will always feel grateful for having the chance to form those relationships.”
Looking to the Future
Alex, now an assistant professor of accountancy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will defend his dissertation in the coming months. His advice to future PhD students is three-fold: “Learn as much as you can from classes and the other students and faculty, try to enjoy your time in the program, and remain grateful for the opportunity.”
David is fully entrenched in his first semester. He is looking forward to every aspect of the experience, even the pitfalls. He says, “I look forward to the obstacles ahead that will challenge me to grow both academically and professionally.”
Neither brother would rule out possible collaboration in their academic futures. Alex says, “Because research interests often evolve, I suspect there will be times in the future when our interests converge.”
In 2022, our PhD Program areas ranked among the top 10 most prestigious nationally in a study of all PhD degree-granting institutions in the US by Nature. This “Prestige” status is based on the ability to place our PhD graduates at other prestigious universities.
The PhD program at Katz is a rigorous, customized program for curious students eager to be recognized as experts in their fields. Applications for Fall 2025 are open now.