Idaho Air National Guardsman Ryan Walker’s inspirational journey to complete a bachelor’s degree began a decade ago.
“There have been multiple breaks in between active-duty military service, my wife, Amelia, having cancer and me going through cancer,” he said. “There have been a bunch of roadblocks and speed bumps along the way. I was taking the approach of trying to chip away at it — even if I could only do one course per semester.”
Walker’s persistence is paying off. He is on track to graduate from Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in August 2026.
“My wife was diagnosed in 2017,” he said. “I pulled out of everything to focus on that. After a couple of years, I was deployed to Kuwait for seven months, from 2020 to 2021. I was diagnosed toward the end of 2021 after I got back to the United States. Thankfully, we’re both in remission.”
In addition to his work with the Idaho Air National Guard, Walker is director of healthcare technology management for St. Luke’s Health System in Boise, so he has plenty on his plate to go along with earning a degree.
“I knew how the online program operated and worked at Boise State,” he said. “The main reason I chose it in 2015 is because they had a hybrid program at the time. There were certain classes I wanted to be sitting in a classroom to learn. That program went away.
“I don’t mind the fully online program. In the role I am in at St. Luke’s, I’m on call 24 hours with work. I am able to adapt and work around my schedule. That flexibility has been especially great.”
Relevant knowledge
Walker was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He was working in a warehouse for Tosoh Bioscience when he joined the Air Force Reserve.
“The team at Tosoh were all prior service military, so they told me if I wanted to get into the career field, my best option was to go into the Army Guard/Reserves or active-duty military,” he said. “Afterward, they said I could come back and transition into the field service team.
“That didn’t happen after I got out, but it started my career. I love to tinker and take things apart, which is what the career is all about.”
In 2015, Walker graduated with an associate degree in biomedical equipment technology from the Community College of the Air Force. He added a second associate degree in science from Boise State last year
“The BBA in Management was the most universal degree because of the career path I am on right now,” he said. “It made the most sense. What you learn within the program is applicable to everything I do on a daily basis.
“Since I am in a leadership role, management role, managing a budget, being strategic — that pathway seemed like the best fit.”
So far, Law for Management is Walker’s favorite course in the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management curriculum.
“I enjoyed that the most because I deal so much with contracts,” he said. “Getting a better understanding through that course is going to help me on a daily basis when I am dealing with vendors and things like that. I have a better understanding of how to hold them liable if they have a breach.
“As a leader, being able to apply what I’ve learned throughout the program for my team and help drive innovation and mitigate changes has been the biggest thing. Being able to keep the team moving forward and understanding the why behind things has been a big value.”
Almost home
As if beating cancer and serving his country overseas wasn’t impressive enough, Walker is set to become the first person in his immediate family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
“My family and friends are very supportive,” he said. “My wife has supported me throughout it. She keeps me level-headed when I get too stressed and contemplate dropping classes.
“She’s been there to push me through it. That’s the biggest thing — it’s never going to be the right time, so start chipping away at it.”
Once he graduates from Boise State, Walker plans to keep his options open in both of his careers.
“I am at the peak on the civilian side, but this is going to open the door potentially with the military career if I go that route, which is commissioning to a medical service corps officer,” he said. “There are other steps to take, like the GRE, but the bachelor’s in business opens that door.”
Walker, who enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and their five dogs, believes time management is essential to success as an online student.
“You have to ensure that you’re making time available for the online program,” he said. “I’m not sure everyone truly grasps that the classes are accelerated going into the online program.
“If you have a normal 15-week course, it’s a lot easier to manage. You cover a lot in a 7-week accelerated course. You really have to be proactive in planning out your week and your time to accomplish it.”
With a journey to graduation unlike most, Walker is happy he stayed the course and will soon have the degree to show for it.
“It feels incredible to almost be done,” he said. “I’m excited. I didn’t need the degree, per se, because I somehow made it to a leadership position without it. It’s always been more of a personal driver for me.”
Learn more about the business administration program
Earning an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.