A Call to Serve
Elected to Portland City Council in 2020 to fill the late Commissioner Nick Fish's seat, Commissioner Dan Ryan is both honored and deeply humbled to serve his hometown of Portland. In 2020, Commissioner Ryan was assigned oversight of the Joint Office of Homeless Services, the Bureau of Development Services, the Portland Housing Bureau, and the Portland Children's Levy.
In January 2023, Commissioner Ryan began serving as the Commissioner of Culture & Livability, overseeing the Office of Community and Civic Life, Office of Equity and Human Rights, Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Children's Levy. In addition, Commissioner Ryan is the City of Portland's Arts Liaison.
2024 brought change and new opportunities, merging Bureaus- Parks & Recreation, Portland Children's Levy, and The Office of Arts and Culture into one service area: Vibrant Communities. Focusing on breaking down communication barriers while bridging gaps in equity through shared experiences to re-paints our vibrant community.
Commissioner Ryan brings the necessary leadership and bridge-building skills required to move our city forward. He is a passionate and results-driven leader accustomed to tackling complex issues.
A Life of Leadership
From 2005 to 2008, Commissioner Ryan served as an elected member of the Portland Public School Board. In 2018, he was named the Portland Light of Fire Executive Director of the Year and received recognition as one of Portland Monthly Magazine's 50 Most Influential Portlanders in 2011. He is an alumnus of the American Leadership Forum in Oregon (ALF Class of XXVIII) and currently serves on the boards of Trillium Family Services and the University of Oregon Alumni Association.
Commissioner Ryan is likely best known as the CEO of All Hands Raised (formerly Portland Schools Foundation). He led the organization from 2008 to 2019—championing collective impact and guiding six school districts in Multnomah County toward measurable and meaningful results—and ultimately improving outcomes for children and youth from cradle to career. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon and completed graduate-level work at New School University's Graduate School of Management & Urban Policy.
Commissioner Ryan is the youngest of eight and a proud Oregonian. Time permitting, he enjoys attending local arts and sporting events, cooking and gardening with his spouse Amo, and outdoor activities with his 16 nieces and nephews and their families. Dan's favorite title is Uncle Danny.
Commissioner Ryan leads steadfastly in pursuit of thoughtful community-shared solutions to the many complex challenges Portlanders face.