UWGB Transformed Ryan by…

…welcoming him into a community of hope and encouragement.

As a small town kid with big time doubts about his ability to succeed at the college level and in the real world, Ryan E. Ruzziconi immersed himself in the UWGB culture and never looked back.

“Finding a university that encourages their students’ growth and has built a campus around that philosophy isn’t easy,” Ryan explains. “But the culture at UWGB, from the professors to the living arrangements, gradually exposes a student to more people, experiences, and learning opportunities. And the more one is exposed to at UWGB, the greater their confidence and willingness to take on new challenges.”

It was this willingness to take on new challenges that propelled Ryan to personal and educational success, but not without the help of a few influential teachers.

“Scott Furlong and Denise Scheberle were not only wonderful professors, but they gave students hope and encouragement,” Ryan insists, “hope that a student’s hard work and dedication would pay off later in their career, and encouragement that no matter the obstacle, both inside and outside the classroom. For students, there are no two greater gifts that a professor can impart, especially at the college stage of one’s life.”

Ryan also credits UWGB’s unique student housing, which “allows for students to develop close relationships and live in a true community together,” and to this day, Ryan still contributes to UWGB by serving on the Alumni Board and taking part in other university activities.

“I would say the overall UWGB experience helped transform me into a more confident individual,” Ryan says, “and that in turn has led to successful careers.”

Name: Ryan E. Ruzziconi

Grad Year: 1999

Major: Public Administration and Political Science

Minor: None

We’ve asked alumni to either share stories of how their lives were transformed by the UWGB  experience or how they are making the world a better place with transformational work in their careers, homes, or volunteer experiences. As UWGB celebrates its 50th Anniversary, meet an alum each week who has experienced a “UW-Green Bay Transformation.” Stories were self-submitted and then edited by Zachary Taylor, a 2010 English Education graduate currently serving as Interim Associate Director of the Phuture Phoenix program.