Sunni Ryan, originally from Raleigh, graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in GlobalStudies and French and a minor in Communication. Today, Sunni is the Executive Director ofRefugee Youth Solidarity through Education (RYSE). Read below to learn more about Sunni’sexperience with Watauga Global Community and her current role with RYSE.
Tell me about your current role.
I am the Executive Director of Refugee Youth Solidarity through Education (RYSE), a
Providence-based nonprofit that fosters literacy, confidence, and community among refugee
youth in the form of a free, five-week summer camp. I am responsible for staff management and
organizational operations, but also the strategic developments for RYSE’s long term growth and
evolution. It is an absolute privilege; this job is pure joy.
How did your experiences in Watauga shape your professional life?
Watauga cultivated a practice of creative thinking and a depth to relationship-building that has
undoubtedly shaped my professional approach. I heavily value the community that surrounds
my work – their needs, their ideas, their growth. This perspective has made the product of my
work more sustainable and impactful. Watauga also made me brave. Its unconventional nature
empowered me to reimagine what my career could look like and encouraged me to forge my
own path.
What advice would you give to an incoming Wataugan?
Lean in. Watauga is an opportunity to expand the way that you think, learn, and relate to others.
You will get what you give, so show up. Give yourself generously.