Ryan Ayaabe Bunker (Class of ’24) is a true go-getter. Last month, he earned his B.S. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Rather than taking a well-deserved break, however, he’s tackling even more of his goals.  

Bunker is currently juggling a master’s program, a full-time job, service on his local school board and his work as a volunteer fire chief. He recently retired as a competitive mixed martial arts (MMA) athlete.  

Oh, and last, but certainly not least, Bunker also has a family. This includes his fiancée, Heaven Waasiikwe Fleming (UW-Superior, Class of ’23), and a 9-year-old son, Princeton Naawigiizhig Bunker.  

How does he balance it all? “I have to sacrifice a lot of family events, and I don’t get out much,” Bunker said with a chuckle. “And I’ve had many late nights.”  

TRIO Program Success

In addition to his other achievements, Bunker is a shining example of a TRIO program success story. TRIO programs are federal support and outreach initiatives hosted at colleges around the country, including UW-Superior.  

These programs are designed to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds thrive in higher education.  

“The TRIO programs help address workforce development gaps,” said Bunker. “The program I participated in – the McNair Scholars Program – really helped me improve my academic and professional writing skills, as well as my presentation skills.  

“All of my peers in this program were highly motivated,” he added. “I encourage others to take advantage of these opportunities through TRIO, and I hope the program will continue for many years to come.”  

Committed to Serve

Bunker is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribe and grew up in the tribal community of New Post, near Hayward, Wisconsin. His cultural identity is deeply important to him. 

“I grew up attending big drum ceremonies and attended the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Institute [a K-9 Ojibwe immersion school in Hayward, Wisconsin],” he noted. Today, his son attends the school and Bunker serves on its board.  

Initially, Bunker wanted to serve in the U.S. Military, but there were barriers to entry.  

“I wanted to be in the military, but I had gotten into some legal trouble,” he said. “I always thought the most honorable thing you can do is to be a warrior – to protect the most vulnerable people in your community. Maybe the next best thing is what I’m doing now: pursuing a career in law enforcement.”  

Bunker is a first-generation college student, but proudly shared that he inspired his mother, Jennifer Cadotte, to attend college. She is currently attending UWS, working toward a degree in communication. 

Leading by Example

As mentioned, Bunker has a lot of irons in the fire. He works fulltime as a Tribal Technical Assistance Specialist at the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. He also serves as the LCO Fire Chief in a volunteer role. He is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from UW-Oshkosh, and he expects to graduate in Fall 2026.  

He is still figuring out his career plans post-graduation.

“I’m thinking about a career in law enforcement, diplomatic security service, or maybe as a game warden,” he explained. “Ultimately, whatever I do, I’m hoping to represent Ojibwe people on a higher level.”  

Goals for the Future

There is no doubt that Bunker will continue to accomplish great things in his career. But above all, he has one overarching goal that he hopes to achieve.  

“I want to leave the LCO community in a better place than I found it,” he said. “I want to contribute to my community, and help our people heal from their trauma, and create a better environment for our children.”