Ryan Gavin is the 12th President of the United States Senate Youth Alumni Association. A broadcaster and media executive from Maine, he arrived at the Mayflower Hotel on his 18th birthday to represent the Pine Tree State at USSYP in 2009.

Read bios of former USSYAA presidents here.

Ryan & Erica at the Mayflower in 2019. Photo by Jakub Mosur

After attending alumni weekend events for several years in the 2010s, Ryan joined the Board of Directors of the USSYAA in 2020 as the Technology Director, and served for two terms in that role. In 2021, Ryan led the development of the association’s complete redesign of USSYAA.org, and spent the next several years integrating the digital services that USSYAA uses to communicate with members, raise money, plan events, and support the Hearst Foundation. At the Annual Membership Meeting in 2024, he was elected President for the 2026-2028 term of the Board of Directors. As President-Elect, Ryan worked with President Taylor Oster to coordinate our annual Alumni Weekend events in Washington, and focused on ways to involve more of our members in alumni events through participation and direct support.

As President, Ryan wants to continue the development of new tools and programs for our members, and to make the USSYAA as accessible as possible for members at all stages of their studies and careers. In 2026, the USSYAA introduced a new official podcast, a summer internship stipend program for younger members, and the Board is exploring plans to enhance our current scholarship and direct support offerings. If you have an idea or want to get involved, our door is always open! Please contact Ryan here.

Ryan attended the University of Maine and the New England School of Communications. On the air now for more than 15 years, he’s the principal owner and managing director of Maine Vibe, a diversified media company based in Portland. Maine Vibe provides custom audio and digital programming, consulting and management services for radio stations and media brands in a variety of formats and markets. Ryan’s team of broadcasters and event specialists also produce more than 200 private events each year in the northeast.

Ryan can be heard on radio stations across the United States every day, and has been a featured personality at brands including WJBQ “Q97.9” in Maine, WGTX on Cape Cod, and WZNF 95.3 on the Gulf Coast. He’s won creative awards from the Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Mississippi Associations of Broadcasters. Even after all these years, his dream job is still to be the MC for Washington Week at USSYP!

Ryan and his wife Erica Wozniak (Michigan, 2009, USSYAA Alumni Programs Director) live in Windham, Maine with their Goldendoodle, Oliver Wendell, and two cats. They plan to name each of their dogs after Supreme Court justices, so if you have any ideas, please let them know. (Warren Burger is likely next). Ryan and Erica met on the steps of the South Portico at the White House, just minutes before they met President Barack Obama on the 47th day of his presidency. Ten years later, almost to the day, they were engaged at the Mayflower Hotel during Washington week. When they say that the United States Senate Youth Program changed their lives, they’re not kidding.

If you’re ever up north and craving a lobster roll or some blueberry pie, make sure you visit!

Contact Ryan here.