Ryan Appleton

Ryan Appleton is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with extensive experience spanning disability services, vocational counseling, program operations, and the financial sector. He currently serves as Program Associate Director, where he supports organizational strategy, program implementation, and collaborative initiatives that advance high‑quality, person‑centered services across the organization.
 
Before stepping into his current leadership role, Ryan worked as a Senior Program Project Manager with the UNT WISE program. In that position, he assisted with the development of summer programming and managed the day‑to‑day operations of summer initiatives and community engagement activities. His work focused on delivering positive participant experiences, coordinating logistics, and ensuring effective program execution in partnership with community stakeholders.
 
Prior to his time with UNT WISE, Ryan spent seven years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Texas Workforce Commission providing individualized counseling, career planning, and advocacy to help individuals with disabilities achieve meaningful and sustainable employment outcomes. In addition to supporting job seekers, he frequently collaborated with employers and HR departments to help existing employees maintain their employment through workplace accommodations, problem‑solving, and retention strategies.
 
Earlier in his career, Ryan worked in sales within the financial sector for several major institutions, including General Electric (GE). This experience strengthened his communication, relationship‑building, and business operations skills, which continue to inform his approach to program management and organizational leadership.
 
Ryan brings together his diverse professional background to support innovative, equitable, and outcome‑driven solutions that benefit both the communities he serves and the teams he works alongside.