Ryan Downing Email & Phone Number

Bloomington, IL, US

Normal, Illinois, United States

• Collaborate closely with the Associate Director to provide administrative and programmatic leadership for University College Orientation and Training Services (OTS)
• Oversee day-to-day planning as well as overall operation of the first-year Summer Preview orientation program, Transfer Registration and Orientation Day, and other transition efforts provided by the unit
• Lead student staff recruitment efforts and improve staff retention summer-to-summer
• Speak on behalf of OTS to welcome over four-thousand two-hundred first-year students, plus their guests, over the course of twenty-six sessions of Preview yearly
• Supervise thirty-five to forty undergraduate student staff and one graduate assistant between first-year and transfer orientation programs, providing evaluation, support, and professional development to all
• Plan and administer between eighty and one-hundred hours of training for orientation leaders each year, collaborating with over twenty different campus partners to ensure a high quality preparation for my staff

Normal, Illinois, United States

• Provided students and families accurate information and advisement relevant to financing their education through over one-hundred touch points a week including emails, calls, and in person meetings
• Conducted trainings and provided resources on financial aid policies, procedures, and opportunities to departments and groups on campus, such as Preview Guides and at conferences held on campus
• Reviewed and processed documentation for hundreds of students each year to ensure funds were disbursed in accordance with federal and state guidelines and regulations
• Navigated extremely sensitive subjects in interactions with students and families, who may be confrontational or distressed, in a productive and compassionate manner
• Lead on several creative projects allowing for flexibility in reaching students amid the global pandemic such as instructional videos utilizing editing software
• Coordinated with other departments to ensure students received a cohesive service experience

Sterling, Illinois, United States

• Coordinated with school counselors in the Sauk Valley Community College district to bring financial aid and college access information to hundreds of students in the area
• Delivered presentations to students covering a variety of college-going topics, including career exploration
• Attended extensive six-week training yearly to remain proficient in the requirements of different federal, and state financial aid programs and facilitated an informal presentation skills workshop with peers

Bloomington/Normal, Illinois Area

- Provide a high standard of customer service and support to prospective ISU students- Part of the first call center team, developing skills and improving ISU’s customer service

- Provided check-in services and directions to students transferring in to Illinois State during Transfer Day Orientations. - Performed these duties on a team of motivated and positive individuals that really cared about the school and the students.

Bloomington/Normal, Illinois Area

- Promoted meaningful interactions between freshman students, their guests, and the school while representing four key values: Diversity, leadership, flexibility, and responsibility- Responsible for 20-40 incoming freshman students during each two-day preview session throughout the summer- Performed office tasks in an efficient manner and was commended for.

Sterling, Illinois

- Promoted meaningful interactions between youth in a day camp setting- Responsible, along with a team of other counselors, for a large group of anywhere from 50 to 80 youth a day- Inspired respect, learning, and fun in the children attending the camp every daySeasonal work, only worked during the summer

Master Of Science - Ms, College Student Personnel Administration, Gpa - 3.80 Cumulative

Bachelor’S Degree, Psychology, Gpa - 3.85 Cumulative

Activities and Societies: PSI CHI Honor Society, Tau Sigma Honor Society, TRiO

High School Diploma, General Education