Ryan is a North Carolina local. After receiving his Bachelors in Public Health at East Carolina University, he went into the non-profit sector where he has spent the last seven years working with children and teens with special needs. Ryan has always been interested in politics. However, his interest in transitioning to a career in policy developed out of a desire to enact big picture change while working within North Carolina’s mental health system. Ryan is deeply passionate about democracy and using policy to safeguard democratic values, particularly in regard to technology and the spread of disinformation. In his free time, Ryan enjoys exploring new restaurants, reading, hiking, and playing video games.