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Ryan was one of Ottawa's most successful businesswomen and one of Â鶹¹ÙÍø's most generous benefactors.

She was born Kathleen Whitton in Renfrew, Ontario and graduated from Â鶹¹ÙÍø's with an honours degree in Economics in 1926. She married fellow Â鶹¹ÙÍø's graduate Frank Ryan (BA'27), who became a prominent radio broadcaster after working at Â鶹¹ÙÍø's radio station CFRC. He was also the owner and founder of CFRA radio station in Ottawa.

She took over his business interests after his death in 1964 and rapidly developed a reputation as one of the city's most astute business leaders. In 1976, she established the Kathleen Ryan Foundation at Â鶹¹ÙÍø's to provide for the preservation of buildings in the Medical Quadrangle.

The fund helped to renovate the New Medical Building into a home for the Â鶹¹ÙÍø's University Archives, which was renamed Kathleen Ryan Hall in her honour in 1982. She also gave a significant grant to CFRC Radio in 1977 to help it establish a stereo signal.

Kathleen Ryan served as a University Councillor for many years. Her sister, Charlotte Whitton, was also a Â鶹¹ÙÍø's alumna and became Canada's first female mayor when elected in Ottawa in 1950.