James Edward Ryan was born on September 21, 1966. He is an American law expert. He was the 9th president of the University of Virginia from August 1, 2018, until July 11, 2025. He was the 11th dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education from 2013 to 2018.

Early life and education

Ryan was raised in Midland Park, New Jersey, and attended public schools in his area. He graduated from Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa.

Career

Ryan worked as a clerk for Chief Judge J. Clifford Wallace of the 9th Circuit and later for Chief Justice William Rehnquist. He was a notable professor of law and a research professor focused on civil liberties and human rights at the University of Virginia School of Law. Before becoming dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education from 2013 to 2018, he held these positions.

On September 15, 2017, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted unanimously to select Ryan as the next president of the university. He began his presidency on August 1, 2018.

On October 19, 2018, Ryan announced a plan to provide full scholarships for in-state undergraduate students from families earning less than $30,000 and full tuition for those earning less than $80,000.

In June 2025, The New York Times reported that the United States Department of Justice had asked Ryan to resign as part of an investigation into UVA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. On June 27, Ryan informed the university’s board of his decision to resign. On July 2, the university announced that Ryan would return as a professor after taking a leave of absence. His final day as president was scheduled for July 11.

Personal life

Ryan lives with his family in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before becoming the president of the University of Virginia, Ryan lived in Lincoln, Massachusetts, with his wife, four children, and different kinds of animals, such as two cats, two dogs, and nine chickens.

Publication

Ryan wrote the book Wait, What?: And Life's Other Essential Questions, and the book Five Miles Away, A World Apart: One City, Two Schools, and the Story of Educational Opportunity in Modern America.