Curriculum Vitae

Self-Study (Promotion, 2024)

Loras College Profile

Story & Style (Thesis, 2018)

I design learning experiences that are immersive,
collaborative, and grounded in creative inquiry.

Built on academic rigor and best pedagogical practices, my courses connect theory to practice and support vocational discernment, equipping students with the skills, insight, and adaptability to think critically, create boldly, and contribute meaningfully in both artistic and professional environments.

"Acting class was phenomenal.  The instructor, Ryan Decker, respected my input and adjusted the practice scene to how I saw the characters and my co-actor... we made acting choices, had momentum, and our reactions felt genuine.  This was a first for me... being treated with respect as an adult, and yet having a playful experience..." -- Jacob Robinson, Acting: Foundations
“Working under Professor Decker, we navigated challenges and celebrated successes together. The class environment was fun and inclusive, which made the hard work enjoyable and the learning profound." -- Theatre Arts student
"Participating in this course taught me the immense value of every individual's perspective in creative production. I learned that my unique cultural background and opinions are significant and can contribute greatly to our projects. This realization empowered me to speak up and share my ideas, enriching the production with diverse viewpoints." -- Theatre Arts student
"I loved this class. Mr. Decker was very fun and inviting. He made class comfortable and allowed everyone to express themselves at their own pace." -- U. New Orleans Acting Student
Course Dropdown
College Courses Taught
Loras College
  • Creative & Expressive Arts
  • Theatre Arts
  • Acting for Stage & Screen
  • Directing for Stage & Screen
  • History & Literature of Western Theatre
  • Classical Theatre
  • Modern Theatre
  • Theatre Performance Workshop
  • Acting Studio
  • Theatre Practicum (Production)
  • Writing Your Own Story (Bridge Program)
  • Public Speaking
  • Oral Communication as Critical Inquiry
  • Oral Communication as Performance
  • Collaboration & Communication (Honors Workshop)
  • Professional Communication (Honors Workshop)
University of New Orleans
  • Acting I
  • Acting II
  • Directing
"This has got to be the most fun I have ever had in any college class I've ever been in ... Mr. Decker made it flexible, letting me express myself to a greater degree." -- Theatre Arts student

5 / 5

Student Assessment Average of Teaching Effectiveness,
University of New Orleans
Provenance & Mentors
Acting Teachers
  • David W. Hoover
  • Richard Glockner
  • Gwendolyn Schwinke
  • Susan Schuld
  • Tyler Hayes Stillwill
Directing, Aesthetics & Dramaturgy Mentors
  • Dr. Jay Edelnant (Kennedy Center, ATHE)
  • Aimée Hayes (Southern Rep)
  • David W. Hoover (UNO)
  • Henry Griffin (HBO, Fox, Sundance, SXSW, UNO)
Performance & Theatre Training
  • Practical Aesthetics
  • Meisner-based approaches
  • Stanislavsky-based approaches
  • Linklater Progression
  • Feldenkrais Method
  • Viewpoints
  • Laban Efforts
  • Chekhov Work
Additional Theatre Training
  • Theatre in Education — Gretta Breghammer
  • Comedy/Improv — The New Movement
Music & Movement Training
  • Cassandra Naatgkeboren — Musical Theatre
  • Kathe Henning — Classical Voice
  • Sandy Walden — Opera
  • Dr. Jean McDonald — Pedagogy
  • Drs. Alan Schwartz, Jonathan Schwabe, Diane Vallentine — Theory/Composition
  • Dr. Jeffrey Funderburk — Musicology
  • Daniel Wells and Sarah Broekhoven — Dance
"Ryan did a wonderful job of preparing the class and organizing the course's work for the semester. The class was inspiring." -- Ivonne Simmonds, Acting: Foundations
"He is a beast! My favorite teacher at Loras hands down." -- Loras College Public Speaking student
"I was allowed to make mistakes … I felt more comfortable and safer to learn in this environment, because I knew I could focus on improving my work … I was only here to practice, receive constructive criticism, and apply it to my future work." -- Acting for Stage & Screen student
"I wasn't letting myself be fully vulnerable in the moment. I was holding myself back ... My words alone weren't enough to fill the scene with meaning ... I had to learn to trust enough to let other people in." -- Acting Studio student reflections