Faculty & Staff Directory

President Ryan Smith, of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College, is a lifelong resident of Gallia County and a graduate of Gallia Academy High School. He graduated from the Ohio State University with a B. S. degree in Finance in 1995. 

Ryan spent the first 23 years of his career working as a Vice President and partner with Smith financial advisors.  The group was a family business that managed personal and retirement savings for individuals throughout the region.

Ryan has a heart for serving his community and over the years he has held multiple titles such as past President of the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce, he formerly served as a trustee of the Holzer Health Systems Board of Directors and currently serves as on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Valley Bank and Gallia County Community Improvement Corporation.

Ryan’s public service led him to seek elected office and in 2007 he was elected to the Gallipolis City School board in 2012 he won the election to be State Representative for the 93rd District of Ohio.  His district consisted of all of Gallia and Jackson County and most of Lawrence and Vinton Counties in Southeast Ohio.  During his time in the legislature, Smith served as Finance Chairman and was the lead sponsor on two, 70 billion dollar State budget bills.  In 2018, Ryan was elected to serve as the 103rd Speaker of the Ohio House.

In October of 2019, Ryan stepped down from his State Representative position to become the 23rd President of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College.

His wife of 25 years, Vicki, graduated from Rio Grande with a nursing degree. Together they are the proud parents of Grant, Blake, Kennedy, and Camryn.