Jesuit Refugee Service/USA has named Kelly Ryan, an accomplished diplomat, attorney and policymaker, as its new president. She will begin serving on May 1.
Ms. Ryan has worked for over 30 years in refugee and asylum law, migration management and human rights and policy law. Her expertise has led to two U.S. presidential appointments. She has also worked with the International Catholic Migration Commission, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Holy See.
Speaking on what drew her to J.R.S., Ms. Ryan told America in an email, “I believe that the J.R.S. mission to accompany, serve and advocate for refugees is needed as much now as when Superior General Pedro Arrupe, S.J., founded J.R.S. in 1980.”
“Throughout my time in the U.S. government, I have had the opportunity to work with J.R.S./USA, and I wanted to become its leader because I deeply believe in its mission and welcome the opportunity to combine explicitly my work with my faith,” she continued.
Ms. Ryan’s experience includes time as the deputy assistant secretary at the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration and as the acting deputy assistant secretary for immigration and border security at the Department of Homeland Security. Currently, she is a senior advisor for the Refugee, Asylum and International Affairs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security.
Given the acute needs of refugees and asylum seekers around the world, from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, Ms. Ryan noted the importance of J.R.S.’s mission at this moment in time.
“The church and J.R.S. have been essential operational partners and advocates for refugees and other vulnerable populations,” Ms. Ryan said.
“Because J.R.S. is actively engaged worldwide with refugees through direct assistance and accompaniment, it is able to learn from refugees themselves as to what they want and communicate that to the U.N. and governments,” she said. “Like everyone, refugees need their agency and the ability to flourish even when they are far from home.”
Ms. Ryan also advocated for the need for J.R.S. to see past “the headlines [which are] are full of stories about the security of the [U.S.-Mexico] border, often with distortions” during an election year in which immigration and asylum are hot-button issues for voters.
“Behind the headlines and stories, we must remember that these are human persons who want nothing more nor less than what we all want for our children and ourselves,” Ms. Ryan said.
Ms. Ryan cites her personal faith as well as her ties to Jesuit education as factors drawing her to the work of J.R.S. She received a law degree from Georgetown University and has been a board member at Fairfield University. Three of her brothers and five of her nephews attended Gonzaga College High School.
“Jesuit education prepares one for life, and I have always embraced the Jesuit ideal of being a person for others. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., who headed J.R.S./USA [in the early 2000s], was my mentor, and I am honored to follow in his footsteps,” Ms. Ryan said.
Following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ms. Ryan, then serving as the deputy assistant of state in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, was responsible for refugee admissions to the United States. She believes that experience has prepared her well for a leadership position at J.R.S.
“It was a difficult time, but we were able to make multiple reforms to the process by working in partnership with the U.N, the relevant federal agencies and our N.G.O. partners. I think that experience is invaluable as some of the same obstacles are arising again,” Ms. Ryan noted.
Ms. Ryan emphasized the effectiveness of interfaith humanitarian work, recalling the impact of working with Buddhist monks in Thailand and religious sisters in India to fight human trafficking.
“I know from experience that real partnership [between faith-based organizations] can produce very meaningful results,” Ms. Ryan said. “Those [survivors of trafficking] trusted members of their faith community to help them. We can always do more to enhance the way in which the U.S. government coordinates with faith-based organizations.”
Robert Niehaus, the chair of J.R.S./USA’s board of directors, said in a press release,
“We are looking to Kelly to continue the strong growth trajectory of J.R.S./USA that Joan Rosehauer has so ably led as J.R.S. continues its mission of accompanying, serving, and advocating the growing number of refugees in the world today.”
Ms. Rosenhauer, the current president of J.R.S./USA, announced her retirement in November. She became the first woman to serve in the role when she began in 2018. Among her accomplishments, Ms. Rosenhauer established Caminar Contigo, a binational border program that provides mental health and psychosocial support, legal advice and a volunteer accompaniment network to migrants and refugees.
Brian Paulson, S.J., the president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, lauded Ms. Rosenhauer for her leadership.
“Joan has built a wonderful team in the office and on the board and strengthened relationships with global J.R.S. colleagues,” he said in a statement. “Joan’s deep faith and passion for the church’s mission to refugees and migrants are inspiring.”
