Alumni Highlights
March 2026 – Ryan Baxter
Ryan Baxter is the March Alumni Highlight! From clarinet performance major to Director of Academic Innovation & Pedagogy in Shenzhen, China, Ryan proves you never know where your Shepherd journey might lead.
When Ryan Baxter ’06 arrived at Shepherd University in 2000 as a music education major, he never imagined his path would lead him around the world. After discovering a passion for working with young children, he made the pivotal decision to switch to elementary education, an experience he credits with laying the foundation for his career. From teaching in Spanish and Chinese immersion programs to leading service-learning initiatives in New York City, Ryan steadily expanded his impact in education.
In 2019, he relocated to Shenzhen, China, to help open the first campus of Avenues: The World School there. Today, as Director of Academic Innovation & Pedagogy, he collaborates with educators to shape forward-thinking learning experiences while embracing a life enriched by travel, global community, and family.
His advice to current students:
“Take the chances you didn’t in high school. Step out of your comfort zone and learn a new skill. You truly never know where it might lead you 20 years from now.”
Watch the full interview video above.
FULL VIDEO TRANSCRIPT COMING SOON
Do You Know An Alumni Who Should Be Recognized?
Alumni Highlights Archive
FORMERLY KNOWN AS RAMS ACROSS AMERICA, a social media series featuring a new region of the United States each semester and highlighting alumni in each state. This program was replaced by ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS, as seen above, in November 2020. See alumni highlighted prior to November 2020 from across the U.S. in the map below.