Mustangs will see two new faculty faces this semester

Everyone gets new-job jitters when beginning a new endeavor.

For Ryan Williams, the start of his new position as a member ofthe Student Activities team has been easier than he ever could havehoped.

“It’s been great because the transition has beenalmost seamless,” he said.

Williams began Aug. 2 serving as the new advisor for theInterfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and MustangMarathon. Only a week went by between former advisor JimBarber’s departure and the start of Williams’ term.

“I’ve been able to work fast and furious right fromthe start,” Williams said. “I was really encouraged tojump in with both feet and take off running.”

Barber departed in late July to pursue a degree in educationfrom the University of Michigan.

But, according to Williams, he left behind a definite plan ofwhat needs to be accomplished, which has tremendously helped plansfor upcoming semesters.

In fact, the new mentor said he really didn’t haveanything dramatically new to begin.

“I’m mainly going to be making sure things happenthe way they should, following up with people, that sort of thing.Everything was really already in place and ready to go,”Williams said.

A native of Fort Worth, Williams graduated with a Bachelors ofScience in Industrial Engineering and his Masters of Education inEducational Administration from Texas A&M University.

It was his three years at Texas A&M that originally made himthink about going into advising and management.

Williams served in five leadership positions in eight differentorganizations on campus, which made him develop extraordinarypeople and organizational skills.

“I lead a lot of various freshman orientation things, so Idealt a lot with parents and answering — and anticipating— their questions. It all just served to sort of train me forwhat I’m doing now,” Williams said.

All in all, Williams wants his organizations to keep in mindthree things: their values, risk management and making gooddecisions.

According to Williams, there’s a direct correlationbetween risk management and good decision-making.

“Risk management doesn’t have to be these two dirtywords. It really just means looking at things from a certainperspective and making good, informed decisions,” hesaid.

But, Williams considers values to be the most important, and hewill emphasize their importance to organizations from the verybeginning.

“Values are what your organization is founded on.It’s what makes your group unique. It’s not a club wereyou just share common interests. You all hold core values to betrue, and every decision you make should keep those in mind,”Williams said.