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Senator Edd Houck visited the campus recently and met with
Thomas Ryan '12 and President Lindgren. |
Virginia Senator Edd Houck recently visited Randolph-Macon College to meet with R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren and senior
Thomas Ryan ’12.
Houck represents the 17th district, which includes parts of Albemarle, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Louisa, Culpeper and all of Orange County. He is Chair of the Virginia Senate’s Health and Education Committee and a steadfast supporter of Virginia’s Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program. Houck and Lindgren both serve on Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Governor’s Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation and Investment.
Ryan, a
political science major, completed his internship this past summer with Houck. In addition to other responsibilities, he attended district events with Houck, assisted with canvassing, put up signs and made phone calls.
“Overall, my job involved interacting with voters and letting them know that Senator Houck is running for re-election,” says Ryan. “It was a good experience because I learned how a campaign is run, and I put into practice some of the skills I have learned at Randolph-Macon.”
The Fairfax Station, Virginia native says that his political science major is a natural fit. “Because I grew up near the nation’s capital, we often took field trips into the city to see how the U.S. government works,” says Ryan. “I remember taking tours of the Capitol building and meeting lots of politicians. And after I took a political communication class at R-MC with Professor Theodore Sheckels, I was inspired to minor in communication studies."
Ryan credits R-MC’s professors for their accessibility and expertise. “My professors are always available when I need help or have a question,” he says. “That’s so important, and it has really helped me grow academically.”
Ryan’s uncle, John Ryan ’66, is a Randolph-Macon College alumnus. “My dad used to visit Uncle John when he was a student,” says Ryan. “Dad never forgot how nice the campus was, and he talked to me about R-MC. That really raised my interest, and I decided to
tour the campus. After my tour, I knew R-MC was a good fit for me, and I applied.”
Ryan, who has always been interested in
history, is also a member of the Randolph-Macon Historical Society, which meets weekly in the library’s
Special Collections Room to discuss significant historical events.
In his free time, he likes to spend time with his friends and family. “My hobby is working on engines and restoring vehicles,” he says. “I usually work on cars, but I have also worked on boats and motorcycles.”
For more information about the breadth of programs and opportunities available at Randolph-Macon or to schedule a campus visit, contact our Admissions Office at (800) 888-1762 or at admissions@rmc.edu.