Current Responsibilities
As the Strategy Director, Ryan helps IFI’s ministry focus on and accomplish the most important aspects of our mission. He spends his days identifying and implementing the highest impact opportunities to benefit international students, universities and churches. His heart for international students drives his desire to guide the ministry at a high-level and continue to see God’s love extended among the nations.

Background
Ryan became involved in international student ministry while in college at the University of Cincinnati (UC). Since first feeling the Lord’s calling to continue serving international students, Ryan studied Mandarin in Beijing, China, for four months, helped start an international Bible study and American slang class on the UC campus, and married an amazing woman who also has a heart to serve internationals.

Ryan studied Graphic Communication Design at UC’s design college and has been practicing web design, web development, and video production since before high school. After starting his first web design business as a sophomore in high school, Ryan worked for web startups located in San Diego, London (UK) and Cincinnati to pay his way through college.

Since he first knew God, Ryan felt drawn to serve Him passionately. In 2015, Ryan and his wife, Liz, learned of the opportunity to join IFI’s staff as Communications Director. It was the perfect mix: Using God’s gifts of design and communication to serve international students full time, and requiring larger faith to leave his web design job and raise financial support instead. After seeking to understand how to best honor God, Ryan and Liz decided to move forward together in faith, excited for what lay ahead.

In 2023, Ryan accepted a new role of Strategy Director at IFI, and he is excited to use his gifts to bless international students across the country in a bigger way.

Support Needs: Ryan is striving to continue serving with IFI long-term and dedicate the gifts God has given him to serve internationals. To do so, he is looking for monthly financial supporters to join him in fulfilling God’s promise to bless all nations.