When Ryan Koral ’04 first visited Rochester in 1998, he didn’t expect his life to change.

A self-described “punk kid from a small-town blue-collar family,” Ryan grew up largely on his own. His parents were divorced, his dad worked midnights, and independence came early. But so did leadership.

He first connected with Dr. Ken Johnson, then president, while leading a Bible study of 30 to 40 students. That conversation introduced Ryan to the college and altered his trajectory. Johnson awarded him a President’s Scholarship, which covered room and board for four years. “He heard something in my story that inspired him,” Ryan said.

Creating Space to Breathe

In addition to majoring in communication, Ryan was involved in shaping campus life. In 2000, he created The Offering, a worship centered on quiet reflection: candles, prayer and time to process. “At school, there were so many spiritual things to be involved in, but I felt like I was constantly consuming and never processing.”

He also launched a campus concert series, bringing in Christian musicians and energizing student life. He also helped rebrand the university’s summer camp into “Elevate.” Even then, the pattern was clear: Ryan didn’t just participate in the community — he built it.

Community Above All

Community remains the throughline of Ryan’s story. He met his wife, Andrea (Bullock) ’04, on campus. They married in 2003 and have three children. In 2013, the couple moved to Clarkston with two other couples — including fellow Rochester alumni Jason and Holly (Cramp) McCullough ’01. “We said, let’s do this with the intention that our lives will overlap and we’ll intentionally love each other and our neighbors,” he said.

The result has been what Ryan calls one of the greatest blessings of his life. “We desperately need people in our corner. I didn’t know growing up how much I needed that — but after experiencing it, there’s nothing more important.”

Falling in Love with Story

After graduating, Ryan worked in enrollment and convinced his supervisor to purchase a video camera so he could create DVDs to send to prospective students, showing the life-changing experience happening on campus.

What began as experimentation became a calling. “I started falling more and more in love with storytelling. Trying to pull out nuggets from people and piece them together in a way that’s compelling and emotional.” That passion led him into wedding filmmaking and, eventually, to founding Tell Studios in 2012, where he works with founders and CEOs to tell the stories behind their businesses. As his company grew, so did his influence. He now hosts a podcast, offers digital courses and coaches entrepreneurs.

Two years ago, RCU administrators invited Ryan to produce a documentary honoring his former mentor, Garth Pleasant. He immediately said, “Yes! Why don’t we tell the stories inside higher education? This is where my life changed. I’m sitting in this chair right now because of the opportunity I got 18 years ago.”

An Epic Story Worth Telling

The conviction to help others understand that everyone has a story to share started at RCU, deepened behind a camera, and now fuels everything he builds. “RCU gave me something I didn’t know I needed,” Ryan said. “It gave me purpose.”

And in return, he has spent his life helping others discover theirs.

Read the full issue of the North Star, RCU’s annual magazine for alumni & friends, here.

article written by Emily Carroll