Ryan Family Scholars and Navigator Program

Group Photo of Ryan Family Scholars 2024

Historic Gift Creates Scholarship and Support Program

Ryan Family with Scholars and TC Leadership

A $1.45 million commitment from a Ball State University alumna, Michelle Ryan, and her husband Jim Ryan, represents the largest single gift in the history of Teachers College.

Learn more.

Michelle and Jim Ryan have established the Michelle A. and James T. Ryan Family Scholarship and the Ryan Family Navigators Program. These initiatives assist students from diverse and economically challenged backgrounds by providing financial assistance and comprehensive student support services to them.

Ryan Family Scholars

The Michelle A. and James T. Ryan Family Scholarship cover all costs—including tuition, fees, and room and board—for approximately 16 Ryan Scholars over the next seven years. The Michelle A. and James T. Ryan Family Scholarship recipients are selected based on criteria established by the Ryan family in conjunction with Ball State Teachers College.

The current cohort of Ryan Family Scholars:

Erika Baber - Special Education, Exceptional Needs: Intense Intervention Major
Kori Chandler - Elementary Education Major
Jasmin Cruz-Sanchez - Early Childhood Education Major
Katheryn Doornbos - Elementary Education Major
Isabella (Izzy) Fuentes - Music Education Major - Choral and Band
Mya Johnson - Teaching Major, Physics Education
Jamie Johnson Harris - Elementary Education Major
Isaiah Kimp - Teaching Major, Social Studies
Claire Laffin - Teaching Major, English/Language Arts
Anaiah Lee - Dual Elementary Education/Special Education, Exceptional Needs Major
Grainger Maxwell - Special Education, Exceptional Needs: Mild Intervention Major
Benjamin Raymond - Secondary English Education Major
Janet Ruiz - Special Education, Exceptional Needs: Intense Intervention Major
Jaxsin Tucker - Teaching Major, English/Language Arts Major
Josselline Valdez Salinas - Elementary Education Major

Photos of all 15 Ryan Family Scholars

Ryan Family Navigator Program

The 2024-2025 Student Success Handbook is now available digitally. The handbook (previously titled Advising Handbook) continues to serve as a resource for new undergraduate students and will be distributed through orientation programs during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Cover of the 2024-2025 Student Success Handbook

While the handbook still includes important academic and advising information, it has intentionally been expanded to highlight other student success initiatives within University College and across campus Go to handbook.

In conjunction with The Michelle A. and James T. Ryan Family Scholarship, The Ryan Family Navigators Program serves as a hub for student support and provides comprehensive student services to all teaching majors, particularly those who are the first in their family to attend college and/or they have financially challenging backgrounds.

Current Services Offered:

Student Success Coaching
Academic, Career, and Personal Development Workshops
Campus Resource Navigational Support

Students, faculty, and advisors should use the Ryan Family Navigators Referral Link to connect with program staff for services.

Ryan Family Navigator Program Staff

John Anderson Profile Photo

John W. Anderson Jr.

Dr. Anderson is the inaugural Director of the Ryan Family Navigator Program, as well as a faculty member in the Department of Sociology. He earned a master’s degree in Sociology from Ball State in 2016, and an EdD in Adult and Community Education from Teachers College in 2021.

Photo of Ryan Scholar GA Antoinette Asabea Addo

Antoinette Asabea Addo

Antoinette Asabea Addo is a Graduate Assistant working with the Ryan Family Navigator Program. She is a student in the Public Administration masters program.

Photo of Ryan Scholar GA Raymond Asamoah

Raymond Asamoah

Raymond Asamoah is a Graduate Assistant working with the Ryan Family Navigator Program. He is a student in the Environmental Geoscience masters program.