Outside of Vanderbilt, Ryan also worked at the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference, Appellate Division. Much of his work as a member of this team, including drafting briefs and educating clients on the legal process, was similar to that done by a client advocate. In previous positions, Ryan worked to raise awareness about disparities in the public schools, tutored school-aged children in an effort to reverse learning declines resulting from Covid, and developed an economic model designed to create sustainability and increased equity within the coffee industry.