Ryan Orcutt named director of Global Leaders program at MSSU

(From Southern News Service)

Ryan Orcutt has been selected to serve as the director of the new Global Leaders program at Missouri Southern State University.

Beginning in the Fall 2021 semester, the program will invite up to 50 students each year based on a combination of ACT and GPA scores. 

Each participating student will have access to $4,000 in private funds that can be used toward international travel, leadership development, undergraduate research or travel to academic conferences.

“It’s a brand new program, so I’m excited to start with something new and help build it from the ground up,” said Orcutt. “The global and leadership aspects are very appealing to me. We can ultimately help cultivate better global leadership through experiential learning and field-based experiences.”

Orcutt comes to Missouri Southern from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla., where he has served in a variety of roles since 2012.

In the college’s Center for Academic Success and Advising, he oversees academic advising, the testing center, distance enrollment and advising, adult degree completion and student discipline. In 2019, he served as NEO’s Centennial Chair and Director of Fundraising.

He is also coming to the end of a three-year term on the Miami City Council.

Previously, he taught English from 2011-12 at Korea Nazarene University in Cheonan, South Korea.

“I learned a new language and was able to travel to other countries outside of Korea,” he said. “Any chance you get to expose yourself to things outside of what you know is an opportunity to grow as an individual. Understanding others’ culture, values and social norms in a world of increasing diversity is extremely important will be enriching when you go out into the work force.”

Originally from Miami, Orcutt attended NEO, where he obtained his associate of arts degree in music. He was a dual major in music and multicultural studies at Evangel University in Springfield, and earned his master of education degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

Orcutt will begin his duties with Missouri Southern’s Global Leaders program on April 1. As a strong proponent of leadership development, he said he’s excited to get started.

“I’ll never forget that in high school, part of our mantra was leadership. You should do everything you can to help others attain their highest objectives. It’s a cyclical pattern, and I want to do the same for others.”