Lilly Ryan

In charge of executing various administrative tasks, such as organizing files and compiling documents.I communicated effectively to answer phone calls from students, faculty, staff, and others. In the office, I aided students and others in solving their problems, directing concerns, and assisting their needs. I worked with office staff and the Head of the Department of Political Science to meet vital deadlines.

I worked with the Senator and her staff to complete State-based responsibilities. We traveled to meet with individuals, businesses, and local and state government officials to discuss support the Senator may bring to current projects. I assisted in facilitating funding and finalizing grant proposal request forms. Aiding in completing constituent casework and connecting with individuals in the field was one of my favorite parts of the job. In my work I collaborated with the State Director and Economic Development Chair to attend meetings and interact with constituents, helping to resolve issues facing them.

Here, I managed customer bookings and large private party reservations. I organized and oversaw the seating, planning, and structure of sever at seating rotation. At the restaurant, I supervised the inflow of customers to control and balance the orders sent to the kitchen. I also solved complex problems by adapting to customers' requests, making wise and quick decisions.

For my minor capstone research, I examined the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The act was supposed to bring equality and protection to individuals with disabilities, but the ADA has fallen short. My research examines the legislation, its implementation, and enforcement to understand better how the ADA has failed to provide true accessibility.

Despite West Virginia’s small population, the state has the highest disability rate in the country. Current scholarship fails to examine the cause of this elevated figure; my Honors Senior Capstone Project aims to fill the gap in research and explore the rate of disability in West Virginia to better understand why the State has such a disproportionally high rate.