Two years ago, Alexander Ryan felt aimless.
The USC student had just completed a major achievement – earning a bachelor’s degree in political economy – yet he didn’t know what he wanted to do in life.
At the same time, Ryan had to deal with a broken healthcare system when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After his mom underwent surgery, he helped gather dozens of documents needed to file a health insurance claim. At one point, Ryan had to chase down his mother’s doctors to get their signatures confirming the surgery happened, even though the hospital had verifying records.
“That’s what angered me,” Ryan recalled. “If this was administered even slightly more efficiently, the insurer would have simply accepted verification in writing. There’d be no need for these other documents. But apparently, that wasn’t enough. We needed to get more documents, more certifications about procedures and more testimonies from doctors, all while my mom was still recovering.”
On top of that, Tennessee, where his mom was treated, provided some of the lowest state-law protections for disabled workers. That forced her to use paid vacation days to go to doctor’s appointments. Meanwhile, other states where Ryan grew up, such as California and Illinois, had more protections for people like his mom.
As stressful as it was, the experience clarified what Ryan wanted to pursue in life: public policy.
“What ultimately drove me to policy was the disconnect I experienced in state and federal law: where one state created protections on top of the American Disabilities Act for people like my mom, and the other would have made her use vacation days so she could see her doctor,” Ryan said. “The same standard of care, and appreciation for her life, should be available to everyone in this country, regardless of where they live.”
Two years later, Ryan is about to complete another major achievement: earning a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the USC Price School of Public Policy. Ryan established himself as a student leader, serving as Vice President of the Graduate Policy & Administration Community. And he has now found his career path: he plans to enroll in law school and eventually pursue international policy in South America.
On May 15, Ryan will be the Graduate Speaker for the USC Price School’s 2026 Commencement ceremony, addressing 5,000 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students and their families. His message to the Class of 2026: “Be dauntless”
“We are responsible for creating the world we want to see and the future we choose for ourselves,” Ryan said. “Be the agent for change you want others to be, and never let your voice be silenced.”
Dreams of South America
Ryan, a Peruvian American, was born in Los Angeles and grew up all over the U.S., mostly in Illinois and Tennessee. He was baptized in Peru, where his mom was born, and has developed an affinity for the South American country after hearing stories from his grandparents.
That has motivated him to work in international policy, with dreams of improving the country where his family is from.
“I want to do something for my family’s home, where the other half of my heritage is from. I want to work toward a future for those who share my identity, to understand and contribute toward a brighter future for those I do and do not know,” Ryan said. “It’s personal, but for a greater purpose.”
Ryan credits conversations with Professor Rym Kaki for encouraging his international ambitions. Kaki, born in Tunisia and speaking multiple languages, reminded Ryan of his own diverse upbringing. They discussed international affairs, how to examine complex policy problems and what Ryan can do with his career. The conversations gave him clarity in what we can do with the policy knowledge he gained at Price.
“She always encouraged me to look at things in a comprehensive manner. Look at things for more than just the sum of their parts and to question the how and why of policies.” Ryan said.
Kaki said she was “truly honored” to have had Ryan in her International Development Administration course – and predicts a bright future for him.
“Alex brings with him not only a deep and abiding intellectual curiosity about the intricacies of policy formation and development governance, but, more importantly, the courage to confront complex societal challenges, interrogate prevailing narratives, and advocate for meaningful, lasting change,
“Above all,” she added, “he possesses a clear and compelling vision of how to better the world including himself—one that positions him to lead transformative change within his community and across borders.”
For the last seven years, Ryan runs an online business with his mother that continues to connect him with people around the world. The Tennessee-based Etsy store, ShintoBeads, resells arts and crafts sourced from international suppliers. The business has made more than 5,000 sales, including customers in Europe and Africa.
“The reason that I started it with my mom is because I wanted to see what other people do around the world. It was both a small way to make money but also to see what exists out there,” Ryan said. “What I have learned is that people, regardless of where they are from, have more similarities than differences. As we head into the future, I hope we can focus more on that fact.”
