Ryan Priester

Chairperson
Senior Program Officer
John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Ryan presently serves a Senior Program Officer on the Chicago Commitment team at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation with focus on the Economic Development portfolio. Through this work, he supports Place-based initiatives in historically marginalized communities within the city of Chicago. He presently serves on the steering committee of We Rise Together and the Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund.

Prior to joining MacArthur, Ryan served as the Director of Community Programs at the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement. In that role, Ryan led the work of the Community Programs Accelerator, which supports nonprofits whose work benefits South Side neighborhoods in Chicago. He also designed and implemented the University of Chicago’s Certificate in Nonprofit Management for community leaders across Chicago’s South Side. A native of Chicago’s South Side, Ryan began his career working with youth and families in the Woodlawn neighborhood, serving as a community organizer in the New Communities Program Woodlawn. He also held leadership roles in community-based nonprofits, including as the Associate Director for the Woodlawn Public Safety Alliance. In addition, Ryan is a professional musician and voice actor. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago, a Master of Science degree from The London School of Economics and Political Science, and additional education from The University of Chicago Divinity School.