Biography

As a third-generation Lea County resident born and raised in Lovington, Dr. Tipton literally “grew up” in the petroleum industry. He briefly left the area to pursue an education at the University of Texas – Permian Basin. After receiving a BBA in Marketing and an MBA in Management/Finance, he returned to Hobbs and started an oil company. With hard work, determination, and favorable commodity prices, the company grew into a regional energy conglomerate. His companies eventually held interests in multiple energy subsectors, including; oil and gas production, drilling, pipelines, and transportation. He also owned and operated two restaurants in the region.

In 2007, he sold his energy business to a publicly traded firm and agreed to serve as VP and board member. While pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration, he founded a private consulting firm. In 2009, a chance conversation (that occurred while he was working on a consulting project) led Dr. Tipton to teach in the business program at USW, and shortly thereafter, he became the dean of the department. Since that time, Dr. Tipton has served the university as the VP of Online Learning and Chief Technology Officer, the VP for Academic Affairs and Provost, and most recently, the university President and Chief Executive Officer.

Ryan and his wife Keisha (also a Lovington native) have been married 20 years and have a beautiful daughter, Rylee. His academic areas of interest include data analytics, corporate strategy, sustainability, and innovation. His personal areas of interest include anything involving the sky (aviation) and the ocean (sailing). Dr. Tipton will frequently comment that while he’s been fortunate enough to enjoy a personal pursuit of a wide variety of interests, he can honestly say that working in education has been one of the most rewarding.