Jim Ryan is an honors graduate of Fairfield University and received his Juris Doctorate at St. John's University. Jim began his career on Wall Street, but later relocated to the Boston area where he served as a public defender. Jim founded NEED (New England Environmental Defenders) in 1992 and later moved to northern New Hampshire to combine his interest in law with his passion for environmental activism. Jim joined YBP Library Services in 1998 and resides in Henniker, New Hampshire with his wife and three daughters. Aside from his duties at YBP, Jim is deeply involved in the planning process for the White Mountain National Forest. Jim is a member of the New Hampshire Democratic State Committee and lead's the committee's public policy affiliate--Think Dynamic. Jim recently won the Jefferson/Jackson Award for Grassroots activism. Jim is on the adjunct faculty of New England College and teaches courses in the political science department. Jim was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2004 and served the State of New Hampshire in the 2004 Electoral College.