When searching for a place to continue his education, Shane Duncan found that the size and traditional feel of Winthrop University’s campus were exactly what he was looking for.
“The staff and professors I met during my tour solidified that Winthrop was the right choice for me,” Duncan said.
During his time at Winthrop, Duncan double majored and earned his Bachelor of Arts in French and a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in marketing.
Duncan explained that Winthrop allowed him to have a “fresh start” because he was able to start his own journey.
In addition to having a double major, Duncan was active in various clubs and organizations. Duncan was involved in the Student Alumni Council, Winthrop Ambassadors, RUF and BCM, Council of Student Leaders and the French Club.
Duncan was also during his time at Winthrop: the captain of the Winthrop Cheerleaders, the president of Pi Kappa Alpha, the president of Interfraternity Council and the Senior Gift Chair.
“Some of my favorite memories happened with my fraternity,” Duncan said. “One memory in particular that comes to mind is when we rode bikes from Winthrop’s campus to the University of Virginia to raise money for the American Cancer Society. We rode day and night and raised money before and along the way.”
“In the 1990s, I would describe the environment at Winthrop as friendly but competitive,” Duncan said. “When competitive events happened around campus like Greek Games or blood drives, each respective group would take on a must–win mentality. But off the field, the student body was very supportive of each other.”
Duncan also shared about his time as a Winthrop cheerleader and the connections he made with his teammates.
“I made many memories as a cheerleader,” he said. “We were together often and had so much fun practicing for the upcoming game and getting ready for cheer camp.”
Amongst the various competitive games occurring around campus, Duncan shared that Winthrop students were still learning about the internet, emails, servers and dial-up modems.
“It was an interesting time for sure,” Duncan said.
As an alumnus, Duncan has remained active within the Winthrop community.
“Over the years, I have served on the Board of Trustees, Alumni Association Executive Board, and was a local contact for alumni events along with being a donor,” Duncan said. “I was honored to be the 2006 Most Outstanding Young Alumni.”
Inspired by his own college experience, Duncan has several pieces of advice for future and current Winthrop students.
“Find friends and groups that mirror who you want to be but also challenge you to think differently,” he said. “Diversity of background is important, but so is the diversity of thought.
“Also, college is a great time to learn and fail without long–term consequences, so take risks and say ‘yes’ more than ‘no.’”
Upon graduation, Duncan found his transition into the real world to be like a “natural progression.”
“Winthrop prepared me well for the workplace. I was interning my senior year, which led to a full-time job in sales after graduation,” Duncan said.
Currently, Duncan is the Head of Sales for a New York City–based FreightTech start-up called Transfix, where he leads the marketplace and tech sales teams.
“Making new friends, unlocking potential you didn’t know you had, being open to new ideas; that’s what college is all about,” Duncan said. “Winthrop offered a canvas to paint the best version of ‘Shane’ during my time there.”
