Five-Minute Feature: Duncan RyanMann, Professor in the School of Business 

Get to know the Empire State University community through this rapid-fire interview series that bridges professional accomplishments and personal interests. What makes Empire State University exceptional? The unique people behind the work. Five minutes—starting now! 

What led you to teach the subject you’re teaching?  

During my last year as an undergraduate and the following three years of employment, I had two mentors who encouraged me to go to graduate school in economics. One was a faculty member that I worked with at Evergreen State College and the other was my supervisor in jobs at Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services. Both had Ph.D.s in economics and came at economic issues with a focus on equity over efficiency. They were instrumental in getting me to take this step into academics. 

What is your favorite thing about SUNY Empire?  

There are a number of wonderful aspects of SUNY Empire, but my favorite, by far, is working with our students! I admire their motivation and determination to earn their degree. And my favorite part of working with our students is assisting those who chose to pursue Credit for Prior Learning through this process. This work validates the academic learning that these individuals have acquired, sometimes over many years or even decades. Seeing the confidence that this process can instill in students validates my own work. 

What’s one moment in your career you’re especially proud of?  

That would have to be receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. 

What’s one thing about you that people might not know about?  

In the summer after my first year in college, I hitchhiked from Portland, OR to Prince Rupert, BC – a little under 1,200 miles – then took a ferry to Ketchikan, AK, in the hopes of working on a salmon fishing boat. Unfortunately, the salmon fishing season closed very early that year and the only jobs available were in logging camps. After surviving for about a week on Dungeness crabs and passing a physical, I got on a seaplane and spent the next two months as a choker setter at the logging camp in Cape Pole, AK. 

What are you most excited about for this upcoming semester?  

I’m both excited and a bit nervous about teaching ECON 3055, Healthcare Economics, as a fully online course for the first time. I just developed this course over the summer and  changed much of the structure and assignments in the course.