Born in 1979, Ryan grew up in a small farming community in central Nebraska. From a very young age he was presented with challenges in life, however, the challenge that presented the most confusion was his growing realization that his body, in the form of the female sex, was not his gender.
In the 1980’s there wasn’t wide-spread information or research on what it means to be transgender. So he didn’t understand the confusion he was feeling, and why with each year that passed, he was more and more uncomfortable in his body, childhood home, and life.
After graduating from high school with high honors, Ryan went on to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He graduated Sigma Tau Delta Honors Society in 2001, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural anthropology and English. In 2004, with a Master of Arts degree in English where he specialized in creative writing. And in 2005, with a Master of Arts degree in educational psychology where he specialized in human health behaviors.
While in college, Ryan worked as an outdoor adventure leader and backpacking course instructor. He was also the student coordinator/script writer for the peer educator group SHINE (Students Helping Individuals Nurture Esteem). And worked three years as the graduate assistant for the University Health Center’s Department of Health Education.
For most of his college years, Ryan struggled severely with the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa. His fight to live and figure out who he was, kept him going with an even deeper desire to learn everything he could about himself, his relationships, and life.
Ryan’s transition and professional career began in 2005. His first job as a health educator was created specifically for his qualifications and knowledge in human sexuality (specifically LGBTQ identities) eating disorders, and body image. Ryan became a tireless advocate for including transgender healthcare as part of the organization he worked for reproductive and sexual health services. He fine-tuned his knowledge in healthcare education and in 2011 launched his career as a self-employed speaker and author.
He is now a well-known name in the fields of inclusion, diversity and healthcare through the frame of gender. Ryan uses his storytelling, his transition from female to male, and his professional knowledge to assist in breaking down the barriers that gender presents us all.
Along with traveling around the world as a transgender speaker, Ryan is also an author of books, articles, and e-learning courses. His writing trains healthcare professionals around the nation on trauma-informed care. His most recent personal narrative was published in the February 2020 special issue of the American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics.
