Barry Ryan, a member of the board of trustees of Woodbury University, was selected as the new president of the Burbank school.
Ryan replaces David Steele-Figueredo, who is retiring as of Aug. 31 after leading the San Fernand Valley university since 2015.
Greg Lippe, chairman of the board, said that Ryan was the ideal candidate to take Woodbury to the next level.
“He is not only an accomplished academic, but also brings a full set of talents that will be leveraged, including his legal and government background, and administrative, communications, and relationship-building skills,” Lippe said in a statement.
Ryan earned a doctorate in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a law degree from UC Berkeley. He also has been a visiting doctoral scholar at Oxford University and the University of London. He holds a post-graduate diploma in global business from Oxford University, according to a release from the school.
He has an extensive career in university leadership, having served as a tenured faculty member, department chair, dean, vice president, provost and president at several institutions, the release said.
Beyond academia, Dr. Ryan also has a long history of volunteer service and leadership in charitable organizations, according to the school’s release.
Ryan said he was honored by his appointment to serve as president of Woodbury, an institution with which he shares his values.
“I look forward to working with our outstanding colleagues and students to continue to enhance and bring credit to Woodbury’s cherished legacy and the communities it serves locally and globally,” Ryan said in a statement.