Christopher R. Riano

Christopher R. Riano was born in the American Midwest outside Toldeo, Ohio in 1984. Growing up outside of Washington, DC, he was the beneficiary of an early education in American political thought due to his family and friends’ dinner-time conversations about their various roles within the federal government.

As an undergraduate at Columbia University, Riano served as the Chairman of the Student Affairs Committee in the University Senate, the highest elected leadership position in the student body. This experience spurred his deep commitment to service, in his law practice and his academic teaching, particularly in engaging diverse audiences around the study of the constitution, government, and their impacts on everyday life in the United States.

Riano currently is the President of the Center for Civic Education and is a Lecturer in Constitutional Law and Government at Columbia University. Previously he served as Assistant Counsel to the Governor of New York, the General Counsel for the New York State Liquor Authority, an Administrative Law Judge for New York State, a Partner and Head of the Strategic Practice Group at Drohan Lee LLP, and as an independent contractor for numerous agencies of the U.S. Federal Government.

Riano lives in New York City with his longtime partner.