Chief Development Officer, Arena Stage

Ryan E. Merkel is currently the Chief Development Officer for Arena Stage, one of the largest producing theaters in the country and a cornerstone of the cultural landscape of Washington, DC. Prior to finding a home at Arena Stage, Ryan held a number of positions at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. culminating in service as the Director of Individual Giving where his work included cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of midrange and major donors, as well as special event coordination and management of all the Newseum's annual membership programs. A devoted champion of the arts and culture sphere, Ryan has also held major gift positions at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and National Symphony Orchestra and is a Trustee of Synetic Theater in Arlington, VA. Ryan earned a Master's Degree in Communication Management from the University of Maryland, while he also worked as a public speaking instructor and an alumni relations coordinator for the Department of Communication. He is a proud graduate of the University of Florida.