Full Biography

A product of the rural Midwest, Dave Brat learned the value of faith, family, and a strong work ethic at a young age. 

Dave’s journey led him to Princeton Theological Seminary where he obtained a Masters in Divinity and then to American University where he earned a Ph.D. in Economics. That education has led him to a career serving the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 1996, Dave began teaching economics and ethics at Randolph-Macon College, where he chaired the Economics and Business Department for six years.

Dave has been honored to serve the Commonwealth in numerous capacities, serving two governors on the Joint Advisory Board of Economists and serving on the Richmond Metropolitan Authority, the Great Aspirations Scholarship Program, and on the VACO OPEB Investment Board.

His economic expertise has also been recognized by his peers who elected him as president of the Virginia Association of Economists, and the governor also appointed him to the Virginia Board of Accountancy.

A man of deep faith, Dave attends St. Mary’s Catholic Church with his wife Laura and their two children, Jonathan, 15, and Sophia, 11.