Robert DuBord and his wife Rhonda packed a U-Haul truck full of Midwestern antiques before beginning his post at the University of Miami in 1981.
“My wife was a native Floridian and wanted to head back,” he said. “I was lucky enough to get a job opportunity at UM.”
After 32 years of UM under his belt, DuBord will retire at the end of the spring semester. DuBord served as an associate director for the Department of Housing and as an associate director for finances and maintenance and personnel.
He advised the business operations of the student media outlets WVUM, The Miami Hurricane, Ibis Yearbook and Distraction magazine. DuBord enjoyed seeing students grow after becoming a member of student media.
“It was a great joy to see them grow and see them take that media opportunity and have it blossom into something good for them,” he said.
In the maintenance side of his job, DuBord ensured that students had safe living and working environments. He helped during the university’s major residential changes such as the reconstruction after Hurricane Andrew and the opening of the University Village, the on-campus student apartments.
Isabel Vichot, the assistant manager for the Hurricane, worked with DuBord for five years and calls him her mentor.
“He was always really helpful,” she said. “Any past assistant manager can attest to that. I can never ask for a better boss.”
Sandra Montalvo, the editor of Ibis, was glad DuBord was there to help answer questions and address concerns.
“He made my job easy,” she said. “He told me what to worry and what not to worry about. He is really good at his job.”
Patricia Whitely, vice president for student affairs, echoes Montalvo and Vichot.
“Bob has always put students first, advising and helping three generations of student leaders to learn about the business aspect of media — especially as it changed drastically during this period,” Whitely said.
Before UM, DuBord worked nine years at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. He helped manage a “bigger housing operation” with more than 8,000 students. He also met Rhonda there in 1975 and later married her in 1978.
“I met Bob through other people, became friends, and then married three years later,” she said
When DuBord arrived in Miami, he helped design a computer housing system and witnessed the campus change from typewriters to the digital age.
DuBord also served as the treasurer in the board for the University Credit Union for the past seven years.
After retiring, he plans to spend time with family in North Dakota and finish work around the home.