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Alumni Profiles


Meet a few of our alumni!

Brad Smith


Class of 2009

  • Research Analyst, SCS Financial
  • B.S. in business, economics, and finance (triple major)

“I had a wonderful experience as an undergraduate at SUNY Plattsburgh’s SBE. Courses were challenging enough to prepare me for my profession in finance, while professors made themselves available for further explanation on difficult topics. In addition, professor mentorship mitigated the transition from academia to the business industry. I value the continued friendships with both peers and professors that remain with me today.”

Ryan Poirier


Class of 2013

  • Associate, Global Research and Design at S&P Dow Jones Indices
  • M.S. in financial engineering, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering
  • B.S. in economics, finance, and mathematics, SUNY Plattsburgh

Throughout his time at Plattsburgh and beyond, he enjoyed interacting with professors with regard to industry topics as well as academic research. His interests in research led him to his current position in the Research and Design team at S&P Dow Jones Indices where he contributes to current market topics across asset classes as well as specialty topics like passive vs. active investing and retirement solutions. He also contributes to the research behind index design concepts, design of production indices, and ongoing research support of various asset classes.

“The professors at SUNY Plattsburgh are perfect for teaching curious students who are eager to learn as well as interact and disrupt conventional thinking. Learning at the college does not always take place at a desk or through textbooks, it sometimes requires willing participants (professors/other students) to instruct, motivate and sometimes even lead the conversation and innovation, which is why SUNY Plattsburgh is a great place to do undergraduate studies.”

Ethan Bicskei


Class of 2013

  • Analyst, Apollo Global Management
  • B.S. in finance, economics, & business administration (triple major) with accounting minor

“My time at Plattsburgh was nothing but positive experiences. I found great appreciation for the small class sizes, challenging course work and knowledgeable faculty who were always willing to go the extra mile for you.

Completing majors in finance, economics and business administration as well as a minor in accounting allowed me to see a pretty full spectrum of what the business school had to offer. During my final semester, I was able to bridge the gap between theory and application by leaving campus for a seven-month financial analyst co-op with IBM in their Cloud Computing division. I felt adequately prepared for this experience and in hindsight believe I wouldn’t have been able to perform at the level required without the knowledge I had previously obtained from my class work and professors. I couldn’t be more satisfied with my choice to pursue my undergraduate degree from Plattsburgh and firmly believe anyone considering the same decision will not regret it.”

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