Kelly Ryan
Bio
Kelly Ryan has lived in Honduras since March, 2011 and has worked in various non-governmental organizations including grassroots and USAID funded projects. Through personal relationships and initiative, Kelly has sponsored and mentored young adults in Honduras who are struggling with substance abuse disorder and mental illness. For over a decade she has navigated the public and private psychological, psychiatric and medical services in multiple regions of Honduras. Kelly has experience in the judicial system including weekly visits for 2 years to a prison in El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras (Centro Penal de El Progreso) and a visit to the women's prison in Tegucigalpa (CEFAS) She is pursuing a Master of Science of Social Work from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (online).
Relevant Experience
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
COFAMIPRO (Committee of Relatives of Missing Migrants), El Progreso, Honduras
Sept 2024 – Present
Master of Science in Social Work Internship
• Grant research and grant writing.
• Support strategies to promote search processes for missing migrants through government agencies.
• Support psychosocial strengthening workshops and psychological care for Committee members and their families.
• Conduct storytelling interviews with committee members about their experiences in the search for their family member, in prison abroad or in the process of grief.
• Participate in actions with related national and international organizations; National Forum for Migration (FONAMIH), Women's Forum for Life, Pastoral Care for Human Mobility, Reflection, Research and Communication Team (ERIC), Foundation for Justice and the Democratic Rule of Law (FJEDD), Mesoamerican Migrant Movement, Casa del Migrante de Saltillo, Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF) and Project Counseling (PCS), among others.
Consultancy, U.S.
Sept 2023 – Present
Country Conditions Expert
• Testifying on asylum, withholding, criminal and Convention Against Torture cases for persons of Honduran nationality who are residing in the U.S.
• Research and write affidavits pulling from over 11 years of experience navigating the mental health and substance abuse treatment options in Honduras as well as the judicial and penitentiary systems.
Sept 2023 – Present
Research Assistant and Contributing Author
• Updating the report: Flamenco Arvaiza, N. A., Nickels, S. V., and Hunter-Nickels, A. L. (2020). Report on Human Rights Abuses of Users of Mental Health Services in Honduras [Informe sobre los Abusos de Derechos Humanos de Usuarios de Servicios de Salud Mental en Honduras]. Research report. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32956.87682. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344251423_Report_on_Human_Rights_Abuses_of_Users_of_Mental_Health_Services_in_Honduras_-_final.
• A comprehensive analysis of the mistreatments and injuries endured by individuals with psychosocial disabilities throughout Honduran society, encompassing instances within psychiatric institutions, correctional facilities, and various other circumstances.
• Studying the degree of stigma is profound, and the frequent instances of mistreatment which reach the threshold stipulated by U.S. asylum legislation and the Convention Against Torture.
Consultancy, El Progreso, Honduras
Jan 2014 - Present
Social Advocate/Mentor
• Manage outreach and treatment plans for drug addicted and gang-affected youth.
• Collaborate with rehabilitation centers to improve services and social reintegration opportunities.
• Mentor youth and families affected by substance abuse.
• Provide case management and referrals to legal aid, medical services, and mental health services.
• Home visits in gang-controlled communities.
• Self-funded from my online work salary.
Board of Directors, Proniño Foundation, El Progreso, Honduras
Feb 2018 - Present
Member
• Supervise the management and operations for a children’s home that is raising 30 street affected youth.
• Consult with the director on institutional and financial challenges as well as behavior issues with the kids.
• Oversaw the change in Director and leadership in 2019 to bring needed reforms to the policies, structure, and childcare norms.
Fundación Nacional Para El Desarrollo De Honduras (FUNADEH), San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Sept 2021 - April 2022
Chief Of Party, USAID Project GENESIS
• Directed a $10 million USAID global development agreement with a team of 36 people in 8 project components and 4 regional offices.
• Reported project indicators and prepared a 40-page quarterly report for FUNADEH and USAID stakeholders.
• Negotiated grant opportunities to align with project indicators and activities including the local private sector and international donors: UNICEF, OIM, HIAS.
• Supervised project activities and alignment with USAID protocols.
• Held strategic meetings with community leaders in existing and potential partner communities in gang-controlled territories in La Ceiba, Tela, San Pedro Sula, Choloma, Cofradia, Tegucigalpa and La Entrada.
• Supervised the network of Youth Outreach Centers and violence prevention programs embedded in gang-controlled communities that provide education, recreation, and vocational training.
Upwork, El Progeso (Remote)
Jan 2014 – Aug 2021
Project Manager
• Reported directly to top-level Directors and CEOs of US-based start-ups: Pimsleur Approach, PetPlan, Bisnow, Verandah Sportswear, DottedLine MFG
• Implemented order management systems and Agile Project Management strategies to streamline operations in B2B and B2C companies.
• Consulted on best practices for small start-ups going through initiation or growth phases.
• Verandah Sportswear: Hired a 7-person team for on-the-job training, managing production and operations for a US-based B2C business working in data-entry, graphic design, customer service, billing, shipping, and production supervision.
Clínica Esperanza, Roatan, Honduras
Sept 2012 – Dec 2013
Development Director
• Planned and executed annual fundraising events for this Christian-oriented, non-denominational, non-profit medical clinic.
• Strategized with local business owners and influential islanders to improve healthcare on the island for locals and tourists.
• Created and managed website content and online fundraising platforms.
• Supported the community health worker program that sent volunteers into impoverished and gang-affected communities on the island.
One Thousand Schools (formerly: Students Helping Honduras), El Progreso, Honduras
Mar 2011 – Feb 2013
Program Manager
• Managed volunteer recruitment for nonprofit with a mission of alleviating violence and extreme poverty through education and youth empowerment.
• Managed onboarding for student volunteers prior to travel to Honduras.
• Led week-long service trips consisting of groups from 6 to 200 volunteers in a week.
• Managed communication and staff relations across various project areas.
• Coordinated with community leaders regarding construction project logistics.
• Met with community leaders regarding security issues in the gang-affected communities to ensure the safety of team visits.
New York University School of Law, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ), New York, NY
Feb 2007 – Feb 2011
Program Assistant
• Reported directly to the Director of the center, Professor of Law and UN Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston.
• Corresponded with professors, UN, non-government, and government personnel to coordinate high profile center and reports launch events.
• Coordinated permissions and assistant edited portions of the textbook International Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics, Morals by Henry J. Steiner, Philip Alston, Ryan Goodman (acknowledgement page viii)
• Created and managed financial tracking system for 10 budget lines both grant and school funded.
Centro NYC, New York, NY
Sept 2006 – Feb 2011
Coordinating Committee Member
• Member of the coordinating committee that made all operational, financial, and programmatic decisions for non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable adult education, advocacy programs, and cultural events to Spanish-speaking immigrants (2008-2011).
• Recruited, trained, and managed volunteers.
• Translated for Spanish-speaking students who received free legal aid from volunteer immigration lawyers. Consults were primarily related to immigration status, worker’s rights, and housing rights.
• Taught computer literacy to adults, 2006-2008.
Education
University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Online
January 2023 - Present
Master of Science in Social Work Anticipated 2027 – Specialization in Administration and Community Practice
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY
2009-2010
MPH Coursework
Biostatistics I & II
Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health
Epidemiology
History and Principles of Public Health Policy
University Of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
2002-2006
BA - International Affairs (2006)
Students Helping Honduras (Founding Member 2004-2006)
Relevant Coursework:
Intermediate Spanish I & II
Spanish Pronunciation & Oral Use
Spanish American Civilization
Theories of International Relations
Politics of Developing Countries
Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean
ADDITIONAL TRAININGS/CERTIFICATES
The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course (2023)
Trauma Competent Care
Trauma Free World Training (2021)
Addiction Recovery Facilitator
Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Facilitator Training (2020)
Speaking Engagements
9th Conference on Social Work and Human Mobility in The Americas, 2025
March 6, 2025, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Barriers to Decolonization and True Community Representation in Social Work Funding in the Global South
Hybrid regional academic conference of Faculty, Students and Programs of Social Work from Canada, Central America, Mexico, South America and the United States.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18bjQuioLC/
European Humanitarian Forum, 2022
March 16, 2022, Virtual
The state of pervasive violence in Central America & Mexico: practical and legal challenges for offering humanitarian protection
Virtual panel offering an understanding of how legal frameworks can support the humanitarian space on the ground and respond better to the protection needs in this.
https://app.swapcard.com/event/european-humanitarian-forum/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfODQ1Mjk3