Bluffton University

Necessary detours

04/29/2025

Academic exploration and embracing opportunities as a student helped Carter Ritchey identify his passions, strengths and career goals.

From wanderer to guide

When Carter Ritchey ’25, a communication and media major from Delphos, Ohio, first stepped onto Bluffton University’s campus, he felt an instant sense of belonging. During his first year, Ritchey was unsure on a career path and explored several majors. Now, Ritchey is ready to graduate with a job secured and a true vision of his passion. 

“Before I even talked to anyone on campus, Bluffton just felt like home,” said Ritchey. 

While the campus felt right, Ritchey’s path forward didn’t feel quite as clear. Like many college students, Ritchey began his academic career undecided and spent the next few years exploring majors.  In fact, Ritchey changed his major six times!

From education to sport management to English and a few stops in between, Ritchey’s journey was anything but linear. But rather than seeing those changes as missteps, he looks back at them as necessary detours that helped him better understand himself and what he was truly passionate about.

That passion began to come into focus when Ritchey discovered the communication and media major, specifically the sports media concentration. Broadcasting Beaver basketball games and working with faculty members in the field (such as Evan Skilliter, assistant professor of sport management) gave him a hands-on glimpse into a profession that brought together many of his strengths: public speaking, relationship building and storytelling.

Outside the classroom, Ritchey got heavily into campus life. During his time at Bluffton, it’s hard to find something Ritchey did not do. Ritchey has been a member of the track and field team, resident advisor, Lead President’s Ambassador, Hall Association president, Marbeck Activities Council member, Marbeck Center student worker and tech center student worker He was involved in intramurals and theatre, in which he has played three lead roles. 

“At Bluffton, it is so easy to get involved and try new things and I wanted to take advantage of that,” said Ritchey. “I have never been involved in most things I have tried at Bluffton, such as theatre, but I ended up trying it out for fun and fell in love. Bluffton is a great place to gain experiences and find new interests.” 

In his final year, everything clicked. Ritchey began serving as an advancement intern and stepped into the role of interim admissions counselor. These experiences confirmed what he had been slowly realizing: he loved working with people, helping them discover their path and sharing the value of a Bluffton education.

“I credit my faculty and staff here at Bluffton for helping me become the person I am today,” said Ritchey. “Specifically, Claire Kleman, interim vice president of advancement and enrollment management, believed in me and significantly helped me get back on track and provided me with amazing opportunities that I likely would not have gotten without her support, including my internship and my full-time job offer.” 

Now, as graduation approaches, Ritchey no longer feels uncertain about his future. He’s accepted a full-time position as an admissions counselor at Bluffton University, the same place where he once stood unsure of where he was headed.

“It’s kind of full circle working as an admissions counselor,” said Ritchey. “I get to help students who might be in the exact spot I was—uncertain, exploring and trying to figure it all out.”