Ryota earned his S.B. in mathematics with computer science from M.I.T. in 1997, his M.A.T. in mathematics education from Boston University School of Education in 2000, and his Ph.D. in mathematics (algebraic number theory) from BU in 2008. In between, he spent two years working as a software engineer and three years as a high school math teacher in the Boston area. His mathematics education interests include mathematical habits of mind, preparation of pre-service teachers, and professional development for in-service teachers. In his spare time, Ryota enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and their daughters Elizabeth and Anita.