Dontae Ryan, D.Eng.
Co-Founder, The Ryan Institute
Doctor of Engineering • Educator • Mentor • Morgan State University Alumnus
About
About Dontae Ryan
Dontae Ryan, D.Eng. is a Baltimore native and graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute who went on to earn his bachelor's and doctorate in engineering from Morgan State University. As a Poly senior, Dontae planned to attend Drexel University until his mother pointed out that he already had a full scholarship, plus book money, waiting for him at Morgan. That conversation changed the direction of his life.
Before his freshman year, Dontae joined what was then called the NASA Summer Enrichment Program, led by Dr. Carl White, the same program that would later become known as PACE. The program built lifelong friendships and a cohort of students who moved through Morgan together, and it planted the first seed of an idea Dontae had never considered growing up in Baltimore, earning a doctorate in engineering.
Alongside his own education, Dontae's family has deep roots at Morgan State. His grandmother graduated in 1952, a time when students had to walk down alleys just to avoid police being called on them for simply walking down Cold Spring Lane. Since then, Dontae, his wife, his sister, and his brother-in-law have all graduated from Morgan, with his son currently enrolled and his daughter considering it as well.
Dontae's wife, Antoynica Ryan, studied sociology at Morgan and spent 13 years teaching in Baltimore City, Washington D.C., and private schools as a literacy and reading specialist. While teaching, she started the Gems and Jewels mentoring program for boys and girls, offering trips, soft skills coaching, and conflict resolution support to students who needed it most. That work became the foundation for The Ryan Institute, which Dontae and Antoynica founded together in 2012 and have since grown into a virtual tutoring and mentoring program serving students across multiple states. Dontae also serves as President and Chief Technical Officer of DLR Technologies, where he applies his engineering background to RF and microwave systems work.
2012
Year The Ryan Institute Was Founded
1952
Year His Grandmother Graduated From Morgan State
5
Family Members Who Graduated From Morgan State
13
Years His Wife Taught in Baltimore & D.C. Classrooms
Continue the Journey
Episode Companion Resources
Continue learning beyond the podcast with practical tools inspired by Dontae Ryan's conversation on mentorship, education, and building a legacy that lasts.
Companion Workbook
Work through Dontae's approach to mentorship and academic support, including how he and Antoynica built the Gems and Jewels program into The Ryan Institute, with guided prompts to help you find your own mentors and start mentoring others.
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Companion E-Book
Discover the story behind The Ryan Institute, from a full scholarship that changed one student's path to a family legacy spanning three generations at Morgan State. Learn how mentorship, consistency, and community can shape a lifetime of impact.
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Available free for the first 99 downloads. Pricing may increase based on demand.
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