Bio

Andrew J. Ryan was raised in the Bronx, New York. After graduating from the School of Hard Knocks, which is afforded to most residents of the famed borough, Ryan went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the State University of New York at Binghamton and George Mason University respectively. Ryan is currently an adjunct professor at George Mason University (GMU) where he teaches courses in multimedia studies and Hip-Hop culture. His first class on Hip-Hop, Beats, Rhyme, and Culture, was the first class on the subject to be taught at GMU. This spring, Ryan plans to take Hip-Hop on-line, teaching Black Voices in Hip-Hop via the Internet. The course will focus on the socio-political climate which set the stage for the birth of Hip-Hop, as well as the critical first ten years of the movement. Ryan also works full-time as a research analyst for an aviation consulting firm while pursuing his Instructional Technology at GMU.

Ryan remains active in his community. He founded a male youth group in the Bronx at age 17 and has organized a similar group for minority engineers Arlington, Virginia. He often speaks to youth at local schools and civic groups. He has also spoken on various topics at many universities, including: Villanova, The George Washington University, Texas Tech, and Fordham University.

With formal training in computer science and engineering, Ryan's expansive research interests encompass decision making, contemporary Afrikan-American history (1960-present), and Hip-Hop culture. His most recent paper: "Rationality and the Afrikan-American Male" explores decision making from an Afrikan-American male point of view. His work on Tupac Shakur attempts to shed light on the man whom Ryan descricbes as: "The most influential figure of his generation." His essay "Tupac Shakur: Keepingit Real vs. Keeping it Right" appears in the Fall 2001 edition of Doula: The Journal of Rap and Hip-Hop Culture.

Currently, Ryan is the editor in Chief of the Journal of Hip-Hop and executive director of a non-profit, Hip-Hop Matters.