Ryan McDonnell

Ryan McDonnell serves as Dean of Students at Logan University, where he leads strategic initiatives across the Division of Student Affairs to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and success-oriented campus culture. In this role, he oversees student care, conduct, engagement, recreation, and integrated academic and career support services, ensuring that every student is empowered to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

With over a decade of progressive leadership in higher education, Ryan brings deep expertise in residential life, wellness programming, crisis response, student conduct, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Logan, he held senior roles at Lindenwood University and Maryville University of Saint Louis, where he led multi-departmental teams, launched retention and engagement campaigns, and contributed to university-wide initiatives including mobile credentialing, pandemic response, and behavioral intervention systems.

Ryan is known for his data-informed decision-making, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to student advocacy. He has supervised large teams of professional and paraprofessional staff, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and partnered with campus stakeholders to align student affairs programming with institutional goals. His work consistently centers on improving the student experience through streamlined processes, inclusive programming, and measurable outcomes.

At Logan, Ryan’s focus is on building a student-centered environment that supports holistic development and prepares students for professional achievement. He believes that meaningful engagement, compassionate care, and strategic innovation are the cornerstones of a thriving university community.