Jo-Ann Ryan grew up in the neighborhood, graduated from St. Augustine School and St. Xavier Academy. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Providence College. She has over 30 years management experience in the RI finance industry. She has worked for Hospital Trust and Old Stone Bank as an Asset Product Manager. She currently works as a Special Projects Manger at Rhode Island Housing in its Homeownership Division responsible for programs and services to help working families afford to buy and keep affordable homes. She is a communicant of St. Pius V Church.

She lives on Pleasant Valley Parkway with her husband of 26 years, attorney Tom Ryan. They are the proud parents of two children, Brendan 25 and Megan 24. Her dad, Tom Flanagan, was a Providence Police Officer. Her mom, Eve Flanagan, ran a beauty salon on Academy Avenue for many years and then became a Realtor. Tom and Eve worked hard to provide for their family and still found time to coach CYO basketball and run the 30-week club at St. Augustine.

Her mother-in-law Kay Ryan was an elementary school teacher for many years in Providence before becoming a librarian at Roger Williams Hospital. Kay earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Rhode Island College and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from University of Rhode Island. In her retirement, she volunteered for many years as a librarian at Blessed Sacrament School.

Jo-Ann regularly volunteers to serve her community. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Providence City Plan Commission, a volunteer citizens board, because she believes that sound city planning is essential to creating healthy, walkable and livable communities.

When dwindling enrollments threatened the survival of her parish school, she was asked to serve on the St. Pius V School Board. Working with the Principal, Pastor and a host of committed teachers, parents, and parishioners they achieved NESAC accreditation and stabilized the school for years to come. When the Parish CYO needed coaches she taught the littlest members of our community the fundamentals of basketball.

Jo-Ann has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Providence and numerous community organizations