Emily Ryan

Emily Ryan (she/her) is the Director of The Commons. She works with faculty, staff, and students at KU to identify areas of research for interdisciplinary inquiry and engagement; address global and local challenges through collaboration; and create opportunities for meeting people across specializations. She works with individuals to create unique formats for programs to ensure that the goals of each session can be reached through the content and structure of engagements.

Outside of work, Emily is an avid vegetable grower. She is passionate about food access, environmental advocacy, and education around food policy. She is a grateful steward of the land, always seeking to grow and learn in community.