Meet our Staff

Ryan found his way to St. Matthew after he completed his Master of Divinity at Luther Seminary. He is an approved candidate for ordained ministry in the ELCA and is excited to be working with St. Matthew to deepen the Christian Education opportunities. Ryan brings a deep passion for learning about our Biblical scriptures and Lutheran theological understandings. He finds great joy in helping others see the narrative beauty, rich complexity, and wonderful poetry of our Biblical witness to God’s grace and love for all of creation through Jesus Christ.

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Ryan was born and raised in St. Louis Park, MN a suburb of Minneapolis. He received a double Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Music from the University of Minnesota. He then worked in the nonprofit sector as a program director and fundraiser. He earned a Master of Nonprofit Management from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN in 2018. He moved to Windsor, CT with his husband Ned Heckman in 2019 and worked as a fundraiser and community engagement specialist for a small school for children with autism in West Hartford. He entered Luther Seminary in 2021. 

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Ryan also serves as the Religious Life Coordinator at The Loomis Chaffee School, where he acts as a chaplain, inter-religious educator and provides support to the various religious student groups on campus. He is also working with a coalition of Lutheran churches in Bristol, CT to provide confirmation programs focused on the Lutheran Catechism.

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When Ryan isn’t doing religious or Christian education - you might find him enjoying a novel with a good cup of coffee, camping in a CT state park with his husband (where he can also read novels and drink coffee), or joining a group of friends to explore a new craft brewery.