CAHNRS Faculty Feature: Patricia Kuzyk

We asked several CAHNRS Ambassadors, excellent students who love WSU and their college, to name their favorite or most influential professors. And now we’re featuring those nominated educators in this weekly series, which runs through the summer.

Headshot of Patricia Kuzyk
Patricia Kuzyk

Today we’re showcasing Patricia Kuzyk, assistant professor in the School of Economic Sciences. Here are her answers to a few questions:

Where are you from?

I was born in Pasadena, CA, but moved to Philadelphia when I was two months old. I lived in suburbs of Philadelphia until moving to Pullman in 1990.

Where did you go to school? 

I attended Drexel University then transferred to Temple University for my B.S. in Economics and Accounting. I stayed at Temple and finished my Ph.D. in Economics in 1990.

How did you become interested in your field?

My father read a lot of philosophy and shared his books with me. I became interested in understanding why some nations thrive and others are mired in poverty. The two ends of the political spectrum provided vastly different perspectives on that question, and I wanted to know which was closer to the truth.

Why did you want to become a professor?

I love learning and I love to share that experience with others.

What is your favorite thing about working with college students?

The students! Every semester I encounter some absolutely delightful people – curious, hard-working, intelligent people. It’s a real privilege to have them in my class.

What advice would you pass along to students?

I’d tell them to enjoy this time of their lives and really try to learn as much as they can while they’re here. No other time of life provides an environment that’s more conducive to personal and intellectual growth.