Born and raised in Washington, DC, Ryan completed his BS in business and economics with a concentration in marketing from Lehigh University. After graduating, he worked in construction, diverting extra materials and waste from the landfill. He later spent time researching sustainable building materials and agricultural projects in Jamaica and Ecuador. While at Georgetown, Ryan has worked for the Office of Sustainability on revamping the waste management system in on-campus residence halls, and is the chief of staff of the Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Committee for GradGov, promoting on-campus sustainability initiatives. His professional interests lie in the urban climate mitigation and adaptation space.