Ryan grew up in the Adirondacks of upstate New York and has lived and worked throughout much of New England. He graduated from Goddard College, where he studied community organizing and gay & lesbian studies. While living in Boston, Ryan discovered a passion for social justice and spent the better part of a decade working to achieve marriage equality throughout all New England states and Oregon, where he now calls home. In his role as Statewide Operations Coordinator, Ryan supports both Oregon and National staff.