Prior to the establishment of the college, he had served as the only superintendent of its predecessor institution, the Virginia Baptist Seminary, since 1832.
[1] Ryland served as the first pastor for the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia from 1841 to 1865.
Reverend Robert Ryland owned slaves himself and believed that slavery was the best way to convert Africans to Christianity.
Ryland received both bachelor's (1826) and master's (1829) from Columbian College (now The George Washington University).
[5] He subsequently also served as president of female colleges in New Castle and Lexington, Kentucky.