May 21, 2026
Ferris State Pharmacy alumni hold every top leadership post at Michigan's largest pharmacy association
The three leaders at the top of the Michigan Pharmacists Association share more than a commitment to pharmacy: all three earned their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from Ferris State University's College of Pharmacy.
Ryan Greenley, Class of 2012, serves as MPA chair. Michelle Kelly, Class of 2016, is president. Ryan Bickel, Class of 2000, is president-elect.
Together, they hold every top leadership position in Michigan's largest pharmacy association. It’s a reflection, their colleagues say, of a program built to develop leaders, not just clinicians.
For Kelly, an associate professor at Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy, the path from student to president took shape gradually through nine years of faculty service and progressive involvement on MPA committees and boards.
Her interest in leadership emerged during her final year of pharmacy school, when opportunities to present to students, providers and patients sparked an interest in pharmacy education as a vehicle for broader impact. That led her to a residency with a strong academic focus — and eventually to a faculty role at Ferris State, where three mentors shaped her classroom presence and professional trajectory.
"It has been an honor to learn leadership skills during school and residency, but also from so many Ferris alumni who serve in professional organizations like MPA," Kelly said.
She is direct about what she wishes she had known sooner.
"Leadership does not happen overnight, and it is not done in silo," she said. "There is a great support system for learning leadership over time."
Greenley, regional director of pharmacy at Aspirus Health System in Michigan, traces his leadership path to his first year in the College of Pharmacy, when he ran for class president.
"At a young age, I recognized the importance of networking and relationships in achieving success both academically and professionally," he said.
That decision opened doors to curriculum committees, accreditation committees and the Dean's Advisory Board — and connected him with mentors who shaped his career long after graduation.
"Very early on, I learned that surrounding yourself with strong leaders and learning from their experiences and expertise is just as important to professional growth as preparing for the next exam," Greenley said.
He credits Ferris State’s culture with pushing students to invest beyond academics.
"It can be easy in pharmacy school to focus solely on achieving the highest GPA possible," he said. "Ferris does an excellent job of encouraging students to look beyond the textbook and invest in other aspects of professional development."
Bickel serves as the director of Pharmacy Services for Beacon Health System in Kalamazoo, which also includes two critical access hospitals, a specialty hospital, and two retail pharmacies.
He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University and his Master of Health Administration degree from Simmons College in Boston.
Bickel completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids and is a diplomate of the ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Academy.
Prior to his current role, he has worked as a clinical pharmacy specialist, PGY1 pharmacy residency program director, and pharmacy manager. His primary areas of interest are pharmacy leadership, medication safety, quality improvement, antimicrobial stewardship, and emergency management.
Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy is one of just three in the state and is known as the university’s first accredited program.
The college dates back to 1893 when Woodbridge N. Ferris saw an opportunity to help prepare local residents for pharmacy licensure examinations. The college’s accreditation has continued uninterrupted since the 1930s.
Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy provides students with a scientific foundation and significant hands-on experience. The PharmD program puts students together with faculty experts who are breaking new ground in biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical research.
Students complete more than 1,700 hours of pharmacy practice experience integrated into the curriculum which is built upon the principles of active learning.
First-year and second-year students complete their coursework on the Big Rapids campus. Students move to the Ferris State campus on Grand Rapids’ Medical Mile during the third year with fourth year students in practice sites throughout the State’s upper and lower peninsulas.
The College of Pharmacy also has dual degree opportunities with a Master of Business Administration through the College of Business or a Master of Public Health from the College of Health Professions.