Amanda Ryan
Associate
Originally from Minden, Nebraska, Amanda graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in 2013 and attended UNO for graduate studies in Sociology. Using the critical research and thinking skills developed at UNO, and her natural passion for racial, cultural, and religious equity, Amanda has a wide array of non-profit and other professional experiences. Amanda serves as the Founding Board President for Omaha ForUs, an Omaha non-profit focusing on creating a physical space, and providing resources and programming for Omaha's LGBTQ+ community. In 2016, Amanda was elected to the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education where she served as chair of the Code of Conduct and Policy Committees during her 4-year term. In 2018, Amanda was selected as a Jew v'Nation Fellow for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Amanda also previously served on the Jews of Color Initiative Grant Making committee.
Amanda has experience researching everything from gender issues in technology to educational and government policy. Her research interests include religion in public life and politics, human rights, race and religion, and social change. Amanda and her husband, Richard, welcomed their first child Lawrence summer 2022 and have a cat, Jiji to complete their family.
Education
University Of Nebraska Omaha (B.A.)
University of Nebraska Omaha (MA)
Expertise
Research, Program Planning, Policy and Procedures
Fun Fact
In her spare time she is an artist creating Mexican folk art style paintings, listening to audiobooks, and studying to become a birth and postpartum doula for BIPOC and low-income birthing people.
