51¶ºÄÌ

Education

B.S. National Security, Cum Laude, University of New 51¶ºÄÌ

About Ryan

I am a lifelong Connecticut resident, born in Milford but raised in Fairfield. After graduating high school, I enlisted into the United States Marine Corps as a Motor Transport Mechanic (3521) and earned a secondary military occupational specialty (mos) as a Combat Marksmanship Coach (0933). Although I was stationed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, I was deployed to combat zones in the al Anbar Province of Iraq in 2007 to Fallujah, and again in 2009 to Ramadi. My four years in the Marine Corps were very transformative for me but struggled as I transitioned back to the civilian world. I later decided to complete a bachelor's degree at the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ and subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in National Security, Cum Laude, & I also am working towards completing my M.S. in the same program.

Service to our nation was something that resonated with me very much, and service to my community was something the University of New 51¶ºÄÌ helped me develop since I transferred here in 2018. Knowing the difficulties and challenges veterans face, and more specifically student veterans, I was chosen to participate in the VA Work Study Program here on campus in January of 2019 and continued to work with the office of Military & Veterans Affairs until my VA Education Benefits were exhausted. The desire to serve fellow veterans was still strong and with work still left to be done, I was hired on as a student employee to continue developing and growing programs like Green Zone Training, the Veterans Advisory Board, and the Joint Forces Leadership Council.

I know what it’s like to re-enter college life as an older and more mature person than when you graduated high school. I understand the struggles, not only in the classroom, but with life as a transitioning veteran, and simply just being a veteran. It is my goal to help each and every student veteran who walks through our doors, to succeed and thrive in an ever-changing world. My own time working towards a degree has been an amazing experience, and I hope I can make it as memorable for our current and incoming students as it was for me!