CONCORD, N.H. -- Tim Ryan ’00 JD, United States congressman representing Ohio’s 13th district, will deliver the University of New Hampshire School of Law’s commencement address Saturday, May 19, 2018.

“We are thrilled to welcome an alum of Tim’s stature back to campus to help us celebrate the next class of law school graduates,” said UNH Law Dean Megan Carpenter. “His has been a steady and powerful national voice during incredibly challenging political times, and his perspective and considerable insight will no doubt strike a chord with our students. We are honored to count him as part of the UNH Law family.”

Ryan is a rising star in the Democratic party and is serving his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, having been first elected in 2002. He currently serves as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which controls the expenditure of money by the federal government, and also serves as co-chairman of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus.

Ryan has been a staunch advocate for ensuring a strong economy and quality of life in northeast Ohio, working closely with community leaders to advance civic projects that boost economic competitiveness and promote the development of high-paying jobs. He has also been a vocal supporter of issues that impact working families across the U.S., including making college more affordable, revitalizing cities and improving the health and well-being of families and children.

Ryan is the author of two books: “A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit,” and “The Real Food Revolution: Healthy Eating, Green Groceries, and the Return of the American Family Farm.”

Ryan has also served in the Ohio State Senate and began his career in politics as a congressional aide with the U.S. House of Representatives in 1995, later serving as an intern for the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office. He earned a law degree from UNH Law (then Franklin Pierce Law Center) in 2000, studied abroad as part of the Dickinson School of Law's international law program in Florence, Italy, and graduated with a bachelor's in political science from Bowling Green State University. Ryan was born in Niles, Ohio, and currently resides in Howland, Ohio with his wife Andrea and three children.