Ryan is a child welfare advocate, consultant, and author with lived experiences from Arizona’s foster care system and as an adoptee from his home country of Ukraine. Ryan has devoted himself to public service, advocacy, and consultation into reforming the child welfare system within local, state, and national efforts. Ryan is the current President of the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s (DCS) Youth Empowerment Council, where he meets with DCS leadership and young people with lived experiences to find solutions towards many needed changes in the state’s child welfare system. Ryan also serves as a delegate to represent Arizona within the National Foster Youth Institute, a federal National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) reviewer with the U.S. Children’s Bureau, Chair of Arizona’s Chapter with the Foster Care Alumni of America, member of the FosterEQUALITY Lived-Experience Team with FosterClub, spokesperson with AdoptUSKids, constitute consultant with Casey Family Programs, Commissioner on the City of Phoenix Youth and Education Commission, and an Arizona consultant for Thriving Families, Safer Children Initiative with Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, Prevent Child Abuse America, and U.S. Children’s Bureau. Additionally, Ryan serves as a peer mentor at Arizona’s Children Association mentoring young people who are currently experiencing foster care in Arizona. Ryan is pursuing a degree in Political Science at Phoenix College as a Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy and AFFCF Scholar. He is planning to continue his studies at Arizona State University to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Public Service and Public Policy with a concentration on social service delivery in fall 2023. In his own free time, he loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, and roller-skate.