Kayla Ryan

Kayla serves as Assistant Director of Advising, supporting academic performance and progress initiatives for undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Since joining Virginia Tech in 2020, her work has focused on advising, student success initiatives, and collaboration with campus partners to support undergraduate persistence and well-being. Kayla earned her M.Ed. in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine and her B.A. in Sociology from the University of New Hampshire. Her graduate work included research on violence prevention and advocacy on college campuses.

Kayla approaches advising as a collaborative process that balances support with thoughtful challenge, encouraging students to reflect on their goals and consider new possibilities. She values taking time to talk through decisions with students, helping them explore a range of academic and personal choices while connecting their interests and values to their educational journey. She also values collaboration with campus partners to help students access resources and support that contribute to their persistence and well-being.

Outside of work, Kayla enjoys going on walks with friends, working on her golf game, and watching college athletics with her husband. She values connecting with friends and family and is currently making her way through the Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie.