Academy Names Butler VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
“We are so proud to have Ryan as our Vice President of DEI,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “His passion and leadership have been instrumental to the huge strides in diversity, equity and inclusion we’ve accomplished over the past two years and we’re excited to see how he’ll continue to enhance our commitment to the music community.”
Prior to Howard, Butler held various positions at Scripps Howard School of Journalism & Communication at Hampton University, as well as at 3EE Consulting, Atlantic Records, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP, and District of Columbia Superior Courts in Washington, DC.
Butler serves on Warner Music Group’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board and the ADCOLOR for Music Advisory Board. In 2020, he was a founding member and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee on the Recording Academy’s Staff Council. He also has received multiple Outstanding Professor Awards, an Academic Excellence Award and a President’s Ambassador of Excellence Award from Hampton University. [Photo credit: Aaron Doggett for Visyoual Media]