Betsy O'Ryan

B.A., International Studies, 1993

Betsy O'Ryan was born in Abilene , Kansas and spent her childhood on the East Coast before moving to Beavercreek as a teenager. She is married to her husband of 16 years, Earl, and has two beautiful daughters, Alana (age 5) and Ainsley (6 months). Betsy originally came to Wright State as a Computer Science major, but after taking Donna Schlagheck's Introduction to Politics course, she switched to International Studies and never looked back.

As a student at WSU, Betsy was an active member of the Honors program, the Model UN team and played intramural soccer. She graduated with her B.A. cum laude in 1993. After leaving WSU, she attended George Washington University 's Elliot School of International Affairs and spent one year in Ohio State 's Political Science Ph.D. program before leaving to pursue a career at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) in 1998. In her capacity as an intelligence specialist, Betsy has traveled the world in support of US national security. In recognition of her achievements and service, she received the Air Force Intelligence Award for Civilian of the Year in 1999 and (in addition to her work at NASIC) for the last four years has taught as an adjunct at WSU, where her History and Politics of Intelligence course garners rave reviews.