Ryan Kenton

Ryan is a Midwest native growing up outside Chicago. He fell in love with science at an early age and eventually found himself getting his PhD in Microbiology from the University of Iowa. While there, he met his wife and they decided it was time for something different. Portland was the perfect place for them to settle down and integrate into the community.

Ryan now teaches at the University of Portland in North Portland. He regularly teaches classes in Microbiology, Parasitology, and most recently on Mushrooms. Living in Portland has given him a deep appreciation for the incredible forests and fungi of the Pacific Northwest, and he enjoys helping others learn how to spot, identify, and appreciate the mushrooms growing right around us.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find Ryan exploring the outdoors with his wife and now two elementary-aged kids. Whether they're hiking around Mount Hood, wandering through mossy forests, or heading out to the Oregon Coast, they try to spend as much time outside as possible. The Pacific Northwest is an amazing place to learn about mushrooms, and Ryan is always happy to share the adventure of finding them.