John Halligan

John Halligan is a bullying prevention advocate, author, and public speaker whose work has influenced school communities across North America. Halligan lost his thirteen-year-old son, Ryan, to suicide on October 7, 2003. At the time of his death, Ryan was a middle school student in Essex Junction, Vermont. It was revealed in much greater detail after Ryan’s death that he was ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and online.

After leaving a corporate career at IBM, Halligan dedicated himself to sharing "Ryan’s Story" with students, educators, and parents, delivering presentations at more than 2,000 schools throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. His appearances on national television programs such as Primetime with Diane Sawyer, PBS Frontline, and Oprah, as well as his address at the United Nations Cyberhate Seminar, have extended his message about empathy, forgiveness, and the importance of upstanders in school communities. Halligan’s presentations provide audiences with strategies for suicide prevention, safe technology use, and fostering a culture of kindness.

In memory of his son, Halligan spearheaded the Vermont Bully Prevention bill, signed into law (ACT 117) in May 2004, only a few months after Ryan’s death. He also successfully led the law's passage on mandatory suicide prevention education in public schools (ACT 114) in April 2006.

In May 2005, Halligan shared Ryan's Story for the very first time with a group of Vermont high school students. Other Vermont schools, hearing of the profound impact Ryan’s Story had that day, extended invitations to Halligan as well. Since then, he has spoken at over 2000 schools throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, impacting the lives of more than 1 million students. He has appeared on several national TV programs, including Primetime with Diane Sawyer, PBS Frontline, and Oprah. Halligan also spoke at the United Nations Cyberhate Seminar in 2009. Halligan’s mission is to inspire a positive shift and foster kindness among students, empowering them to take a stand against bullying and create a safe and inclusive school culture.

Halligan is also the recipient of several awards, including:

IBM Community Service Award 2005 Kids Safe Collaborative Community Service Award 2008 United Way's Home Town Hero Award 2008 Children Abuse Prevention Services Community Award 2009 The FBI Director's Community Service Award 2009 The Learning Channel Give A Little Award 2017

In 2019, he published two books: "Ryan’s Story: A Father’s Hard-Earned Lessons on Cyberbullying and Suicide" for adults. "Ryan’s Story: Loved Beyond Belief," for middle and high school students, telling the heartbreaking story of Ryan Halligan’s short life. Both books include tips on safe technology use, strategies for the bullied and bystanders, and suicide prevention.