Merging Passion with Purpose 

Ryan Walton took an unconventional route to his career in campus recreation – one that began with a passion for rock climbing and a distinct aversion to college. "I was always someone who said I'm never going to college at all," Ryan confesses. "I was a rock climber, and I just wanted to go climb."

A conversation with a mentor changed his trajectory, leading Ryan to study resource management while working as a guide at Nelson Rocks in West Virginia. There, he took people on a via ferrata – a protected climbing route with "rebar staples in rock and being able to cross over this 200ft tall suspension bridge between two shark fins."

During this time, Ryan discovered something unexpected. "I started realizing how much education was in the outdoors, how much education was possible while you were guiding," he explains. This epiphany led him to pursue a master's degree and merge his twin passions of recreation and learning.

For Ryan, campus recreation focuses on well-being, community building, and personal growth. "What somebody's comfort zone is, is different for absolutely everyone," he notes. "One of the really cool things about campus recreation is that we want to meet people where they're at."

His approach helps students find their "stretch zone" – that sweet spot where they're challenged enough to grow but not overwhelmed. Having spent time climbing in Colorado before recently returning to Pennsylvania, Ryan brings diverse outdoor experiences to PennWest's unique recreation programs, creating opportunities that transform the college experience.

 

Listen to Ryan's story on the Power of PennWest Podcast