April Ryan
Major/Minor
Bachelor in Journalism
Grad Year
Notable Affiliations
White House Correspondent, CNN Political Analyst, D.C. Bureau Chief for TheGrio, author, and speaker
Greek Affiliations
Business
April Ryan is the longest-serving Black female White House Correspondent. Over the last 25 years, she has covered numerous historical events throughout five presidential administrations. She’s the only Black woman reporter covering urban issues from the White House—a position she has held since the Clinton era. April Ryan is a CNN Political Analyst, DC Bureau Chief for TheGrio, author, speaker, and mother. April Ryan has received death threats after Trump repeatedly called her out by her name and repeatedly told her to ‘sit down’ in an attempt to silence during a press conference. To date, Ryan has asked five Presidents relevant and pertinent questions on behalf of an underserved urban community. She asked Donald Trump about his collusion with Russia, if he were racist, and if he planned to resign. She questioned Bill Clinton on his impeachment and George W. Bush on Katrina. She has asked Barack Obama the tough questions about race in America, and Joe Biden about his promises for change. On behalf of TheGrio, she delivers her readership and listeners (millions of African Americans and close to 300 radio affiliates) news that "amplifies Black culture.” Ryan is a graduate of HBCU Morgan State University and member of Delta Sigma Theta. Her hometown is Baltimore, MD. April was nominated in 2021 with the NAACP Image Award for Social Justice Impact. The National Association of Black Journalists named Ryan as the "Journalist of the Year" (2017).
Morgan State
White House Correspondent April Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House – a position she has held for 25 years, since the Clinton era. Her position as a White House Correspondent has afforded her unusual insight into the racial sensitivities, issues, and attendant political struggles of our nation’s past presidents. April can be seen on CNN. She is also the Washington D.C Bureau Chief on TheGrio. She has been featured in Essence, Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Elle magazines – to name a few. April Ryan has served on the board of the prestigious White House Correspondents Association. She is one of only three African Americans in the Association’s over 100-year history to serve on its board. She is also an esteemed member of the National Press Club. In 2015, Ms. Ryan was nominated for an NAACP Image Award (Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author) for her first book. 2016 National Council of Negro Women, Mary McCloud Bethune Trailblazer. In 2019 April Ryan became an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and was recognized as the 2019 Freedom of the Press Award Winner by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. April was nominated in 2021 with the NAACP Image Award for Social Justice Impact. April is a Baltimore native and Morgan State University graduate, and she gives back to this community by serving as a mentor to aspiring journalists and assisting with developing “up and coming” broadcasters. April considers her greatest life’s work raising her two daughters, Ryan and Grace – who are phenomenal young women. April Ryan is the author of the award-winning book, The Presidency in Black and White, and At Mama's Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White (December 2016), where she looks at race relations through the lessons and wisdom that mothers have given their children. Her latest book is Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House.
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