Ryan Leon is an University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Nuclear Engineering alumnus (by way of Morehouse College's Dual-Degree Program) and professional project manager from Los Angeles, CA. Ryan started his nuclear engineering career with the University of Michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program where he got a chance to conduct experiments, experience the beautiful and fun-filled campus, and wonderfully supportive staff. He continued his career by conducting research during the school semesters, attending American Nuclear Society meetings and conferences, and working a summer internship at the nearby Fermi II power plant. All these experiences culminated in a post-graduation job offer as a research intern with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Ryan worked there for two years with the material science group studying the resonances of uranium compounds and programming milling machines to cut challenging materials such radioactive plutonium into usable pucks.

After the two-year contract was up, Ryan decided to return to Los Angeles to start a new career path closer to his family and friends despite loving his previous line of work. Since then, he’s maintained an enthusiastic desire to support the field of nuclear engineering and is excited to help the students of the Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers program experience the same exposure to a unique world of opportunities which were so pivotal to him.