Truman’s 2025 Alumnus of the Year is Ryan Brennan. A 1995 political science graduate, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Blue Key as a student. He has served his alma mater as a member of Truman’s Foundation Board of Directors and as a Campaign Volunteer. Brennan was recognized with as Truman’s Young Alumnus of the Year in 2000. He received his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Brennan is currently a Managing Director at Advantage Capital, where he leads the firm’s efforts to foster access to capital and economic development in underserved communities. Advantage Capital has invested over $4.2 billion in small businesses throughout the country, financed the development of nearly 15,000 units of affordable housing and provided tax credit equity for 2.81GW of renewable energy projects (sufficient to provide close to 500,000 homes with clean energy).
He is a member of the Executive Committee and Compensation Committee and is a leader on the firm’s Fundraising Team and Growth Team.
Brennan was most recently Chief Operating Officer for the United States International Development and Finance Corporation (DFC), the development finance arm of the U.S. government. While at DFC, he drove the creation and adoption of the Impact Quotient (IQ), an innovative method of measuring and improving impact in projects around the world. He was a member of the DFC Investment Committee and led business development across the Western Hemisphere that facilitated billions in direct investment to Central America’s Northern Triangle.
Brennan serves on the Board of the Napa Valley College, The Foundation Board of the Gregorian University in Rome and is former President of the Boys and Girls Club of Napa Valley.