Meet Our Scholars

Whit Ryan was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended an all-girls school. As a semi-out, queer student in a conservative environment, Whit struggled but found a path by embracing academics and sports as ports in the storm. In the years since graduating from high school, he has received a bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre from the University of Colorado at Boulder, co-founded and was Executive Director for a not-for-profit performing arts company, and become a professional chef. He has also coached hundreds of athletes through the United States Field Hockey Association, achieved a national rating as a field hockey umpire, and was selected to play on the U.S. Men’s Master’s Field Hockey Team. In a perfect circle, he now consults with his alma mater and other schools to help them embrace their gender-non-conforming students, and in particular has developed a passion for creating safe space for LGBTQ athletes in the sports of their choice. As a student, leader, athlete, coach and umpire, Whit has embraced opportunities both professional and informal to encourage support of queer students and athletes in many venues. Pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Sport and Performance Psychology allows him to expand his ability to learn and lend strength and wisdom in increasingly powerful and compelling ways.