A MCAC Story: Ryan McBride

Ryan McBride, a 2010 University of Michigan graduate, never saw himself returning to Saginaw, MI where he grew up. An English language and literature major, McBride’s interests for his post-graduate endeavors were varied, ranging from earning an MFA in creative writing, getting his MBA, attending law school or becoming a teacher. Unsure of what career he wanted to pursue, and entering a job market in recession, an academic adviser told McBride about a program U-M was starting for recent grads to serve as college advisers at high schools across Michigan. When McBride saw that Saginaw was one of the cities listed for the first cohort, he was drawn to apply.

For two years, McBride served as part of the Michigan College Advising Corps (MCAC) at Saginaw High School, his alma mater. There, he provided a near-peer perspective about the college experience for high schoolers from his community, which included family members and siblings of his peers. “A lot of teachers were there when I was there,” McBride noted, which created a built-in “trust” in the programs he wanted to deliver. “They embraced me and really welcomed me as a staff member.”

After his two years back in Saginaw, McBride earned his Master’s in higher education at the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education. Most recently, McBride has worked as a Global Programs Associate at the Obama Foundation, whose Voyager Scholarship program is awarded to college students who want to pursue careers in public service.

“Working as an MCAC adviser,” says McBride, “lit a fire under me in terms of my passion around college access, but also more broadly increasing access for marginalized communities. It has been a common thread for every job I’ve had since.”

This story originally appeared in “Celebrating 15 Years of Educational Outreach.”