Patricia A. Ryan, MPA, PhD

Dr. Patricia A. Ryan is a Professor and holds a BA in Psychology from Siena College, a MA in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a PhD in Business, Management and Organization from Capella University. She served as the Interim Executive Dean of the Forbes School of Business & Technology, Associate Dean, and Chair of Marketing and Strategic Management.

Dr. Ryan’s many accomplishments include:

• 30 years of management and executive management/leadership experience in Fortune 100 and 500s along with nonprofits, in specialized areas such as institutional banking, marketing, finance, insurance, securities, and technology.
• 20 years academic leadership experience including teaching at the professional, undergraduate, and graduate levels; program review and assessment; accreditation; research and IRB leadership positions; contributing writer/reviewer of text books and journal article; presenting at several conferences; and more.
• Served in state and local government and participated in many high profile task forces and community forums at the federal, state, and local levels.

Transitioning from corporate to academia is driven by her desire to blend academics with real-world applications for richer and more robust meaning and learning. She loves humor and is an avid supporter of many animal organizations including the Wolf Conservatory; Lions, Tiger, and Bears; the San Diego Human Society; The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park; Helen Woodward Animal Center; and the Sea Shepherd.