Vince Duncan earned his B.A. in Sociology from The Ohio State University in December 2001 and A.A. from Columbus State Community College in 1999. Born and raised in Columbus, Vince was employed for 28 years at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) and retired in March 2012 from the position of Manager of Revenue Collection and Sales. From 1983 to 1989, he served in the Ohio Air National Guard and was stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base (now Rickenbacker International Airport) in the 160th Air Refueling Group. Vince became a real estate salesperson in 2006 with Keller Williams Classic Properties Realty (KWCP) in Columbus.
When did you join the board, and why?
I joined the board in Spring 2020. I was invited to have a discussion about the role of the advisory board and its relationship with the Sociology Department. What really struck me was the added element of mentoring current undergraduate students majoring in Sociology/Criminology. This is extremely important to me because it gives me and the other board members the opportunity to have a profound impact on students regarding assisting them with a range of tasks that include mock interviewing for employment to preparation for graduate school and sharing our career paths and life experiences that were guided by our academic endeavors in Sociology. In my opinion, mentoring can be especially beneficial to students who are not from central Ohio and definitely those who have migrated to the United States from other countries. It can be a very daunting task to navigate a large university in a country that is not in one’s homeland.
Why did you choose to accept the position as chair of the Sociology Alumni Advisory Board?
When I was asked to become chair, I didn’t hesitate for one second to accept this opportunity. I consider my board membership to be an honor and to be chair is the highest honor and very humbling. While I’ve previously been involved in various civic and community boards, I did not chair any of these boards. I thought now is the right time and this advisory board would be a great opportunity for me to assume a leadership role. I want our board to have a sincere and meaningful impact on the department.
What do you see the board’s role as?
Our board provides philanthropic support, and we consider ourselves to be a sounding board to the department chair and faculty and give assistance and insight when and where needed. Our involvement gives us the opportunity to propose, create, and advance the goals and initiatives of the department.
What are the board’s future plans?
We have ambitious plans to create endowment funds and scholarships to increase our chances of attracting the brightest students and faculty and more importantly, retain the students and faculty we currently have. The advisory board aspires to connect with Sociology/Criminology alumni and community partners to seek their guidance and volunteerism where needed. We want these individuals to be engaged with the department and provide them with the opportunity to “give back” and “give forward” to help us and the department to reach our goals. In addition to living in a diverse society, we live in a very competitive society as well. We must do everything we can to continue our research efforts and increase our chances of understanding our societal similarities and differences, which will give us a better chance of living productively and peacefully with each other.
When were you at OSU?
I attended Columbus State Community College in the 1990s before transferring to Ohio State in the fall of 2000. I graduated with a Sociology degree in December 2001. Attending Ohio State was a no-brainer for me. I grew up knowing nothing but OSU. My father earned his undergraduate degree in Education and after a four-year stint in the U.S. Army, he returned to OSU to earn his law degree. My younger sister earned her master’s degree in OSU’s College of Education.
What is your favorite memory from your time at OSU?
A: I can’t narrow my answer to one memory. My favorite memories are connected to several professors and the courses they taught. The most intriguing course was Sociological Theory, taught by Dr. Basil Kardaras, in the basement of University Hall. It was Winter Quarter 2001, cold and snowy, and the ambiance of University Hall added to the intrigue. The most eye-opening class was Contemporary World Societies: Social Institutions and Social Change, taught by Dr. Donna Crossman, who was a very enthusiastic and engaging professor. The most energetic and interesting professor was Dr. Townsand Price-Spratlen, he taught Types of Sociological Inquiry. When I say he was energetic, you better believe me! And he still is! Dr. Price-Spratlen is a great instructor, very engaging, and a captivating conversationalist. Lastly, I was a student of Dr. Brenda Chaney, in Sociology of Education. Dr. Chaney was very interested in encouraging her students to be actively involved in class discussions. Her generous support and dedication played an enormous role in my achievement of earning a B. A. in Sociology.
How has your background in Sociology impacted your career and how you move about the world?
The world of Sociology enhanced and stoked a curiosity that I already had regarding people and experiences who are different from me and my life experiences. I currently work in the real estate industry and if you ask anyone who knows me well, they’ll tell you I always mention the clients I’ve met who are from other countries, especially some of those that comprise West Africa. An agent/client relationship oftentimes progresses to a friendship that includes invitations to their homes for social gatherings and sharing meals. Learning about people from different countries and cultures has a direct impact on the type of housing they desire and maybe more importantly, where they wish to live. This is a constant topic of conversation I have with other real estate agents so they can be prepared if they meet clients from different countries.
Is there anything in particular that you learned from your time as a sociology student that really stuck with you?
When I began enrolling in the advanced-level Sociology courses, I was able to tie answers together with previous questions I had about various groups of people and the social institutions that shape our lives in society. Some of the answers are outcomes that may not be what we desire but those outcomes may serve as a beacon to lead us in a direction that hopefully will result in a more common good.
What is your favorite part of being on the board?
Several answers: I enjoy walking across campus and seeing students milling about, going to and from class. I sincerely enjoy my participation on the board, hoping that I have a positive impact on the Sociology Department, no matter how big or small. Lastly, it’s all about the students. Ultimately, the mentoring. Giving advice, sharing ideas, listening to them, learning from them.