Student Spotlight: Ryan Cullen ’23

Ryan Cullen ’23, a senior from Sudbury, Massachusetts, is majoring in operations and information management with a concentration in information systems and analytics while also pursuing a minor in economics. He spoke with Chloe Troung, a social media intern at Isenberg.

How did you choose your major?

I chose my major based on my desire to focus on technical skills while having access to all the amazing resources at Isenberg. A part of me has always wanted to do something around analytics within the business world, which is how I settled on my major and concentration.

I was originally an economics major before transferring to Isenberg and decided to stick with it as my minor when I got accepted. I have always had a passion for economics and I think it helps establish the perfect foundation for all things related to business. I analyze the world more thoroughly now that I have enhanced my knowledge of economics.

Tell us a little about your future goals.

In the future, I want to help businesses improve their efficiency and sustainability. I believe we must begin to use the tools at our disposal to help create a more efficient and sustainable world for the generations to come.

How does the curriculum for your Isenberg major support your wider interests and plans?

Isenberg has amazing resources for all their students, which allowed me to work on my analytical skills throughout my time here. The professors here have helped enhance my skills in various programming languages and visualization tools, which has set me up for endless opportunities upon graduation.

What has been your favorite Isenberg class so far?

My favorite class has been OIM 297P, which is a class on business applications with Python. It helped me further my data analysis skills and led me to work on my own algorithmic trading project, as well as a housing market analysis project now that I have all the necessary skills and knowledge to do it on my own.

Do you want to pursue any other interest and what is your plan for it?

Outside of my main curriculum, I also have a great interest in the world of real estate. I have taken some real estate classes at Isenberg, which allowed me to acquire my real estate license within the state of Massachusetts. Upon graduation, I will be further pursuing this passion of mine in the form of residential real estate.

I also have a passion for traveling, which I am hoping to make time for upon graduation. Some of my favorite places I’ve been to are Italy, Switzerland, and St. Thomas. I haven’t been able to travel since before the COVID-19 pandemic began so I am very eager to get back out there and explore.

Have you had any challenges in finding a suitable curriculum?

When I first got to UMass, I was unsure of the exact path I wanted to take. However, I got out of my comfort zone and began taking courses around subjects I knew nothing about. This opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me and I can now say with absolute certainty that I was able to find a more than suitable curriculum for myself.