Ryan Butler is an educator, leader and diversity and inclusion practitioner. He is the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion atf the Recording Academy and formally served as a key member of the Advocacy & Public Policy team. Butler has a wealth of experience in the music industry, legal field, and academia — previously serving as Assistant Dean and Director for Innovation in Media at Hampton University in Virginia. Ryan has also worked in key roles at Atlantic Records, MTV Networks and the RIAA. Butler received his M.A. from New York University and his B.A. from Howard University.