Lord Ryan Lizardo

Occupation: Vice President of Education, Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i
What school you grad? James Campbell High School ‘10
College: Chapman University, Johns Hopkins University
Location: Honolulu, HI

Lord Ryan Lizardo serves as the Vice President of Education for the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, where he acts as a bridge between businesses and schools to promote work-based learning (WBL) opportunities. Through this role, he helps facilitate student engagement with employers via field trips, mock interviews, internships and other experiential learning programs.

He received the Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Hero Award for Oʻahu in 2024 and was named one of Pacific Business News’ “40 Under 40” honorees in 2025, celebrating young leaders making a difference across the state. Passionate about empowering Hawaiʻi’s youth, he continues to advocate for meaningful educational and workforce pathways.

Lizardo currently serves as a board secretary, Honolulu Pride Festival chair and scholarship chair for the Hawaiʻi LGBT Legacy Foundation, in addition to chairing various school-related councils and boards. A proud product of the ʻEwa Beach community, he attended ʻEwa Beach Elementary, ʻIlima Intermediate, at James Campbell High School, where he later taught from 2014 to 2020 through the Teach for America program.

Q: Briefly describe your journey after high school.
A: In high school, I found my passion for the world of education through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program. When I graduated in 2010, I decided to attend Chapman University to major in Integrated Educational Studies, a major that gave me the world of education in the classroom and non-profit. After graduating from Chapman, I applied to Teach for America and got placed to teach in O‘ahu at my alma mater, James Campbell High School. At JCHS, I taught social studies, became an Academy Lead for the Academy of Public and Human Services, and advised the Class of 2020 student council and Rainbow Sabers club. I was honored to join the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i Education Team in 2020 to manage all work-based learning activities for our employers and schools.

Q: What are you up to these days?
A:  I am now the Vice President of Education at the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i! Alongside the Education and Workforce Development team, I manage and support work-based learning for our partner schools and act as a strategic partner with the state to coordinate and streamline employer partnership in schools.

Q: Why did you choose this career path and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I love being part of someone’s growth journey! Mentoring and watching people grow always brings me joy and there is no shortage of that in the education world.

Q: What makes you #PublicSchoolProud?
A:  I love seeing young leaders in public schools out in the community, making their voices heard, and making differences in the community! Recently, I’ve been so inspired by the young public school students who attend our work-based learning experiences and how knowledgeable they are. I love when we get to see public school representation in spaces of influence and power.

Q: Favorite subject in school?
A: Sociology, by far!

Q: Favorite school lunch or breakfast?
A: Oven-baked chicken with saimin

Q: What type of extracurricular activities were you involved in?
A: I was president of the student council and National Honor Society. I was Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper.

Q: Name of a teacher or mentor you’d like to thank?
A: Amy Rabago, best teacher and student council advisor I could have ever hoped for!

Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: Authentic leadership is a powerful motivator and opens doors for the next generation of leaders to see people like themselves in you.