Ryan is a native of Washington; he graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelor's degree in Economics with minors in Business Administration and Mathematics. Ryan, briefly worked at Russell Mellon Analytic Services, now Russell Investments, but subsequently left for the University of Oregon where he completed his master's and doctorate degrees. Ryan's research and teaching is focused in the areas of international finance, monetary policy, and regional business cycles. At Gonzaga, Ryan serves on a number of committees including retirement benefits, faculty compensation, and assurance of learning.