Vera Institute of Justice

Ryan Shanahan is the global justice exchange director. Ryan previously served as the director of Vera's Restoring Promise initiative, starting the Institute's work on transforming prison conditions with a focus on young adults.

Ryan transitioned to Vera in 2009 from a Vera spin-off, Family Justice. Their work at Family Justice to help incarcerated people stay connected to their families and communities became one of the four core values of Restoring Promise.

Ryan’s family’s experience with the legal system motivated them to start in this field. Ryan’s commitment to the work is a reflection of their father, Kevin, who instilled in them from a young age a commitment to justice and generosity.

Ryan holds a BA from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in women’s studies from the University of Maryland.