Ryan Brennan (’95)
Ryan Michael Brennan is a Managing Director at Advantage Capital, where he leads the firm’s efforts to foster access to capital and economic development in underserved communities. Advantage Capital has invested over $4.2 billion in small businesses throughout the country, financed the development of nearly 15,000 units of affordable housing and provided tax credit equity for 2.81GW of renewable energy projects (sufficient to provide close to 500,000 homes with clean energy). He is a member of the Executive Committee and Compensation Committee and is a leader on the firm’s Fundraising Team and Growth Team.
Ryan was most recently Chief Operating Officer for the United States International Development and Finance Corporation (DFC), the development finance arm of the U.S. government. While at DFC, he drove the creation and adoption of the Impact Quotient (IQ), an innovative method of measuring and improving impact in projects around
the world. He was a member of the DFC Investment Committee and led business development across the Western Hemisphere that facilitated billions in direct investment to Central America’s Northern Triangle. Ryan serves on the Board of the Napa Valley College, The Foundation Board of the Gregorian University in Rome and is former President of the Boys and Girls Club of Napa Valley.
Ryan received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Truman State University.
The Alumni of the Year distinction recognizes Truman graduates whose life’s work is representative of the core values the University strives to instill in all its students:
- intellectual integrity and informed ethical values
- a focus on public service and the betterment of society
- the willingness to exercise personal and intellectual leadership
Recipients of the Alumni of the Year Award
2024: Dawn (Wellington) Tartaglione (’90)
2023: Susan Plassmeyer (’86)
2022: Richard (’70) & Kathleen (Gilbert) Theriault (’71)
2021: Bill “Woody” Woodall (’79)
2019: Terry (’68) & Faye (’68) Whitworth
2018: Dick Erzen (’49) & Edie (Ford) Erzen (’49)
2017: Kenneth “Ken” Rickli (’65)
2016: Daniel “Dan” Shepherd (’79) & Janet “Jan” (Kreimeyer) Shepherd (’76)
2015: Steve Justice (’70, ’81)
2014: Mike McClaskey (’85) & Janet (Yearns) McClaskey (’84)
2013: Mary (Rhodes) Russell (’80)
2012: Jack Magruder (’57) & Sue (Brimer) Magruder (’55, ’77)
2011: Steve Rose (’69)
2010: Larry Quisenberry (’66, ’75) & Sharron (Bailey) Quisenberry (’66)
2009: Greg A. Gerhardt (’79)
2008: Lanny Morley (’62, ’64) & Beth (Fisher) Morley (’63)
2007: Randa Rawlins (’79)
2006: Guy Burton (’53, ’55) & Betty (McKanna) Burton
2005: Eugene Croarkin Sr. (’49, ’52)
2004: Dwain Horn (’50)
2003: Calvin Roebuck (’57)
2002: Linda Miller (’70)
2001: Dean Rosebery (’41) & Amy (Ayres) Rosebery (’43)
2000: Carole Kennedy (’72)
1999: Chuck Foudree (’66)
1998: B.D. “Bud” Hunter (’50)
1997: Joseph Hasenstab (’60)
1996: Steve Gaw (’78) & Fannie (Bowdish) Gaw (’84)
1995: James C.C. Chen (’86)
1994: Ruth Warner Towne (’39)
1993: Frederick “Fritz” Lauer (’50)
1992: Ray Bentele (’60) & Mary (Cox) Bentele (’60)
1991: Larry Moore (’67)