Dr. Ross Bryan, associate dean of student development and engagement in the The University of Alabama Honors College, has been named to the board of directors for the UNC Asheville Foundation.
Bryan, who has served as associate dean since 2022 and as a professor in the Honors College since 2015, joins the board as part of the foundation’s newest class of directors. The foundation supports University of North Carolina Asheville through philanthropy, advocacy and strategic partnerships that advance the university’s mission and student experience.
“Ross’s appointment to the UNC Asheville Foundation Board of Directors is both a well-deserved honor and a reflection of the extraordinary leadership, integrity and commitment he brings to higher education,” said Tiffany Sippial, dean of the Honors College. “Ross is a deeply thoughtful scholar, an exceptional administrator and someone who leads with both vision and genuine care for students and colleagues alike. As a proud UNC Asheville alumnus, this appointment also represents a meaningful full-circle moment in his professional journey. We are incredibly proud to see him recognized in this way and know he will serve the university with distinction.”
Bryan earned a doctorate from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree from University of North Carolina Asheville.
His research interests include the construction of social identities, experiential education, outdoor leadership and the sociology of education. He also serves as an affiliated faculty member in the departments of higher education and social-cultural studies at The University of Alabama.
In the Honors College, Bryan teaches courses including “Power, Societies and Dissent” and “Rocketry,” a class that blends interdisciplinary learning with hands-on exploration.
As associate dean, Bryan oversees student development and student engagement initiatives within the Honors College. A native of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, he and his wife, Mary, have two daughters.
About the Honors College
The University of Alabama Honors College provides opportunities for students to become outstanding scholars, leaders and citizens through interdisciplinary learning, undergraduate research, community engagement and global experiences. With more than 10,000 students, the Honors College is one of the largest and most dynamic programs of its kind in the nation. Learn more at honors.ua.edu.