Ryan Fortson

Ryan Fortson is an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline University, where he contributes to legal education and scholarship. Previously, he taught legal studies at the University of Alaska Justice Center from Fall 2012 to Fall 2024 and practiced law in Alaska, focusing on family law, landlord-tenant law, and civil rights as a partner in the Northern Justice Project and through Alaska Legal Services.

Education:

• J.D. from Stanford University
• Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota

His research and practice intersect law and political science, with a particular emphasis on Alaska Native Law, Critical Race Theory, and Originalism. He has also explored legal frameworks in family law and housing disputes through his publications.

At Mitchell Hamline, Prof. Fortson teaches Alaska Native Law (JTerm 2025) and Critical Race Theory (Spring 2025), reflecting his expertise in Indigenous legal issues and contemporary constitutional analysis.