Ryland was born and raised in New Mexico, but his passion for water law brought him to Colorado.  He graduated with honors from Trinity University in 2006, and from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2010.  In 2009 he represented the University of New Mexico at the Pace National Environmental Moot Court where his team advanced to the semi-final round for the first time in school history.  Upon graduation Ryland was awarded the Honorable Pete Domenici Award for excellence in environmental law, and he graduated with the school’s natural resources certificate.  Ryland joined White & Jankowski in 2010, where his practice emphasizes water rights and natural resources law.