Ryan W. Neal

 Ryan W. Neal covers the Drew Hamilton Houses in northern Manhattan.

Ryan has already had an enviable career as a journalist and as an adventurer.  Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Ryan grew up as an independent kid who kept himself entertained with homework, video games, and sports, such as swimming, water polo, and snowboarding.  As a teenager, he also worked several different jobs, from a lifeguard to a water polo coach to a personal assistant to the blind.  Yet, at 16, he already knew he wanted to be a writer.

After graduating from Bella Vista High School with honors, Ryan attended the University of California – Santa Barbara, where he took on a double major in philosophy and English.  He excelled at both, with philosophy professors urging him to pursue a Masters in philosophy, and his English professors encouraging him to get his writing published.  Since Ryan felt writing was truly his passion, he took on an internship with the award-winning publication, The Santa Barbara Independent, in 2009.  During his time there, he produced 36 stories for the Independent and did freelance work with another alternative weekly paper in Sacramento, a student paper and a local arts magazine.

Craving more adventure, Ryan left California in November 2009 to pursue odd jobs in Colorado, where he stayed for two years while living the snowboarder’s dream in the mountains.  However, after doing a little bit of freelance work for the local Summit Daily News, Ryan wanted to return to writing, and he applied to Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.  Here, and with NYCinFocus, he hopes to take his writing to the next level, and with his track record, he will undoubtedly excel.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @ryanWneal