CCS Welcomes New Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Sharon Ryan

The CCS is ecstatic to welcome Sharon Ryan as Associate Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives. Sharon will lead strategic planning, communications, and outreach for the Center, as well as support  its partnership and development initiatives.  

Sharon is a facilitator, communicator, and strategist specializing in participatory strategic planning, action planning, stakeholder engagement, consensus building, and leadership development. As a process facilitator, she designs and leads processes that draw out diverse perspectives, and help groups learn, make decisions, develop plans, and achieve shared goals together. As a communicator, Sharon focuses on helping scientists expand the reach of their work and engage with the public and partners in conversations about the relevance of science and technology in their lives.  

Sharon’s toolbox is diverse. For more than 20 years, she worked globally in senior leadership roles in communications, education, and public engagement for organizations such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Hailing from Canada, Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts from Memorial University of NL, a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University in Nova Scotia, and a Master of Environmental Education and Communications from Royal Roads University in British Columbia. She’s an Endorsed Facilitator with the International Association of Facilitators, member of the US-based ToP (Technology of Participation) Network, and a Certified Tetramap® practitioner. These experiences inform the insights and expertise she offers organizations looking to address the obstacles and challenging world of today.