Ryan is originally from Nebraska, Ryan has an undergraduate degree in History from Nebraska Wesleyan and a master’s degree in Horticulture with an Urban Food Systems emphasis from Kansas State University. Before coming to Allen Centennial Garden, Ryan worked at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, an historic house museum and George Mason’s Gunston Hall, a tiny historic house museum. In these roles, he managed a garden restoration project which included: historical research, working with volunteers, developing educational content, and managing a host of historic plant varieties. Ryan has also managed a small flower CSA and vegetable program at a local farm in VA. Ryan is passionate about promoting taste, local food, and beauty–all things even a container gardener can aspire too.