John Ryan, director of assessment in the College of Education and Human Ecology at Ohio State University, has been appointed director of institutional research by Jane Knodell, provost and senior vice president, effective March 1.
Ryan comes to UVM with a wealth of experience in institutional research after spending more than a decade in leadership positions within higher education. Prior to his current position, Ryan served as the assistant provost and associate director of institutional research and planning at Ohio State. Ryan has also worked as an assessment officer and instructor at Franciscan University in Steubenville Ohio.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join UVM at this important time in its historical development and in higher education more broadly," said Ryan. "I believe that one of the most significant characteristics that will distinguish institutions that continue to grow in academic quality and impact from those that do not will be the capacity to convert data and information into insights that can be shared and used to inform decision-making and planning, support targeted initiatives and improvement efforts, and demonstrate our contribution to the larger culture and society in which we operate."
Ryan has coordinated program reviews for more than 100 academic departments across Ohio State's 19 colleges and supported a variety of institutional effectiveness projects and initiatives. His area of expertise includes higher education policy and administration, academic program review, learning outcomes assessment, student persistence strategies, strategic planning and research methods. Ryan is a member of the Association for Institutional Research Publication Committee, consults and presents on the topics of assessment, strategic indicators, student learning and program review, and has advised students and taught research inquiry courses at the graduate level.
"We are extremely fortunate to have someone as experienced and dedicated to the advancement of higher education as Dr. Ryan join our team," said Knodell. "His background in institutional research and higher education in general speaks for itself and will only enhance our current mission. He is a worthy successor to Fred Curran, who has graciously agreed to serve as special assistant to the provost for institutional research through the end of this year to aid in a seamless transition of leadership."
Ryan, who earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Ohio State University in political science, received his doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in higher education administration. He succeeds Curran, who retired at the end of last year after more than 30 years of service.
