Ryan Sendejas is an environmental professional, researcher, and community advocate who was raised in Riverside and still calls it home. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Geospatial Analysis from Cal Poly Humboldt. Over the past decade, Ryan has advanced environmentally responsible and socially conscious projects spanning academic research, food sovereignty, community education, and sustainable development.

Ryan began this work as a student at Riverside City College. There, he advocated for, designed, and helped build a community garden where students could gain hands-on experience growing food. The garden offered students a space to learn about food production, environmental responsibility, and the importance of access to healthy, locally grown food. This experience deepened Ryan’s interest in projects that connect environmental knowledge with the everyday needs of communities.

In a previous role at the University of California, Riverside, Ryan contributed to California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment, focusing on the Inland Deserts region. His work supported a broader effort to understand how climate change affects California’s communities, ecosystems, and natural resources. This experience allowed him to apply his expertise in environmental studies and geospatial analysis to a major statewide research project.

Ryan is particularly interested in integrating public policy, scientific research, and community participation. He believes that environmental solutions are most effective when informed by evidence and shaped by those who will be directly affected. His goal is to help develop practical, equitable responses to complex challenges in climate change, land use, food systems, environmental justice, and sustainable development.

Outside his professional work, Ryan enjoys photography, the culinary arts, exploring new places around the world with his partner and hanging out with his bro-cat, Hades.

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