Born and raised in Nevada, Ryan attended Pomona College as an undergraduate and completed his PhD in mathematics at the University of Texas. He has worked as an educator in Japan, Egypt, Canada, Vietnam, the US, and the UAE. He is an author, an award-winning instructor of mathematics, and has been the chief academic officer at several innovative colleges and universities including Quest University Canada, Fulbright University Vietnam, and Deep Springs College. He is currently the president of a new experiential college in the UAE launching in 2025.