Naturally, he was shocked when he found out he was selected as one of those outstanding persons.

"I was a bit taken a back when they told me they has decided to award me with the honourary doctorate," Mr Ryan said.

"It wasn't something I expected."

He said he never saw himself in the same category as those he had previously seen be selected.

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Mr Ryan's service to Federation University included Chair of the Finance Committee and served on the Executive Committee, Infrastructure Committee, Audit and Risk Management Committee, Investment Management Committee, and Senior Appointments and Remuneration Committee.

Mr Ryan joined the Council and the Finance Committee on July 1, 2012, and was a major contributor to the successful financial transition from the University of Ballarat to Federation University Australia.

In 2015, Mr Ryan took over as Chair of the Finance Committee and then the Chair of the combined Resources Committee until December 31 2019, when he decided to step back to be a committee member.

He said this transition was difficult for the university but one of his proudest challenges while serving the school.

"There were a lot of hard conversation to be had, I felt I did a good job managing people and the debate," Mr Ryan said.

"Getting decisions made to improve the financial sustainability of the university because it was pretty tough there for a while."

Mr Ryan lived in Horsham for many years and moved to Ballan several years ago for family reasons.

Mr Ryan previously served as a Horsham Rural City Council member from 2005 to 2012, which included two years as Mayor.

Mr Ryan has been involved in community projects such as The Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Plan, The Wimmera Mallee Sustainability Alliance, and the Horsham Art Gallery.

He said his father's education is what keeps him driven as a contributing community member.

"My father was the same," Mr Ryan said.

"He had a university education, and back in his day that was a bit unusual. He had this philosophy that if your community had given you the opportunity to get a good education, you had a responsibility to pay them back by making a contribution to the community in one way or another."

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Having served on Federation University boards and being a regional community member, Mr Ryan is passionate about upholding regional university campuses.

"We need, in the regions, to value our universities and TAFE/training organisations," he said.

"If we don't value them and we don't use them, there is a high risk we will lose them."

Mr Ryan said he feels for students who are starting their tertiary education during such a challenging period with so many changes,

"It's a really tough time," he said.

"The thing about education, it's just three or four years, it's forever. While it's frustrating and disappointing not being able to get in feet first, it's a process that will never change.

"It's not the end of it, it's just the start of a different way of doing it. It's worth it, you'll never regret it."

Mr Ryan said he would not be using his doctorate on his letterhead.

"I might use it at a party," he joked.

"I'll probably get a fair bit of stick from my friends and family."

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