Thanks for wanting to know more about me! Below are some fun facts about who I am and what I do here at Oberlin.
My name is Ryan and I’m a proud Chicagoan. I grew up on the South Side of the *actual* city, ergo the White Sox are my favorite baseball team… however, I regrettably don’t watch sports very often :-)
I was a part of the Posse Foundation program and graduated from the double degree program at Oberlin in 2018 with majors in (classical) Voice Performance and English. As a first-generation college graduate, I have spent a lot of time helping the oldest two of my FIVE younger sisters navigate life and the higher education system in this country (yes, you read that correctly, I have five sisters, and I am the oldest and only boy. Childhood was a character-building experience for sure!).
Oberlin grew on me so much in my time as a student that I’ve found it hard to leave, though I imagine one day I might–only to grow more fondness in my heart for this quirky, vibrant town. Oberlin has challenged me, helped me grow into a better person and musician, and has been a place where I’ve found true support from individuals who’ll be in my life for years to come. To say I’m grateful for this school and town would be an understatement.
Currently I work in the Conservatory Admissions Office as the assistant director. I help in managing our campus visit events, hiring amazing student ambassadors for our office, counseling prospective students, and I get to oversee our new social media channels this year! Above all, my favorite part of the job is meeting hopeful Obies throughout the year through college fairs, info sessions, and hopefully now through this blog.
Outside of admissions, I direct musical worship at a local church, perform in Cleveland from time to time, teach voice lessons, read short stories, watch anime (more than I’d like to admit), and play video games. There is also the possibility that I like to pretend I have a YouTube channel and talk about American culture to myself in my mirror…
I hope you enjoy reading my blog this year!
