Dr. Marilou Ryder
Dr. Marilou Ryder serves as the Program Chair and Professor of Education for the Ed.D. program in Organizational Leadership at the University of Massachusetts Global. With a distinguished career in educational leadership, Dr. Ryder has accumulated extensive experience at both the university and school district levels. Her professional journey spans six school districts across two states, where she has held roles including classroom teacher, middle school principal, assistant superintendent of educational services, and superintendent for both unified and union high school districts.
Dr. Marilou Ryder is the author of the third edition of the bestselling Rules of the Game: How to Win a Job in Educational Leadership (2024, Delmar Publishing), a practical and comprehensive guide for aspiring school leaders. Her newest release, Leading Legends: Female Superintendents Breaking Barriers with Purpose and Power, features inspiring stories from ten trailblazing California superintendents who shattered gender norms to lead with impact. She also authored Bold Brilliance: Personal Power and Possibilities, a powerful anthology of insights from 14 women leaders on reclaiming personal power and creating lasting success. In addition, Dr. Ryder is the coauthor of ten influential titles in the Sister-to-Sister Series for Women and Girls, which focus on empowerment, confidence, and leadership. A dynamic and sought-after speaker, she presents across California on topics including women’s leadership, personal branding, and career advancement.
Throughout her career, Dr. Ryder has been a passionate advocate for scholarly learning and practice, committed to enhancing educational quality through innovation and sustainable change practices.
Education History
1998 - Ed.D. Organizational Management, University of LaVerne, LaVerne, CA
- Dissertation: “The Impact of Male Gender Dissonance on Women’s Potential Eligibility for Advancement to the Position of Superintendent”
1973 - MS in Education, Syracuse University, NY
- Education and Curriculum
1971 - B.S. in Education, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
- Math and Science
Scholarly Activities
Book Publications
- Leading Legends: Female Superintendents Breaking Barriers with Purpose and Power (2025, Delmar Publishing).
- Bold Brilliance: Personal Power and Possibilities (2024, Delmar Publishing).
- Rules of the Game: How to Win a Job in Educational Leadership 3rd Edition (2024, Delmar Publishing).
- Super Power Moves: Strategies for Women to Gain Presence, Influence Others and Own the Room (Delmar Publishing, 2021).
- Show Your Worth, Girl: Be Bold, Speak Up, and Be Heard: Teen Inspirations, Hints, Tips, and Truths (Delmar Publishing, 2021).
- Love Your Age, Girl: Be Good to Yourself and Live to 100! Inspirations, Hints, Tips, and Truths (Delmar Publishing, 2020).
- Know Your Worth, Girl: Invest in Yourself and Spend it on You! Inspirations, Hints, Tips and Truths (Delmar Publishing, 2020).
- Don't Forget Your Lipstick, Girl: Sister to Sister Secrets for Gaining Confidence, Courage, and Power (Delmar Publishing, 2020).
- DON'T FORGET YOUR SWEATER, GIRL: Sister to Sister Secrets for Aging with Purpose and Humor (Delmar Publishing, 2019).
- 92 TIPS FROM THE TRENCHES: How to Stay in the Game as an Educational Leader (Delmar Publishing, 2014).
- The SeXX Factor: Breaking the Unwritten Codes that Sabotage Personal and Professional Lives (2003, New Horizon Press).
Published Articles
- Executive Presence
School Administrator (March 2020) - A Working Solution
COAST Magazine 2019 - Preparing for your Next Leadership Position
Leadership (Vol. 45, March/April 2016) - Leadership Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone
Leadership (Vol. 42, March/April 2013) - Go to the Head of the Class
The School Administrator, October 2009 - Superintendent Gets Taken for a Ride
The School Administrator, February 2009 - Cultivating Women Leaders through a Network
The School Administrator, November 2008 - Create Your Own Aspiring Administrators Symposium
Leadership, (Vol. 36, No. 1, September/October 2006) - Moving on Up: Promoting At Risk Students.
Leadership (Vol. 32, No 1. September/October 2002) - Breaking the Statistical Norm: Women in Educational Leadership.
Thrust for Educational Leadership (Vol. 23, No 7. May/June 1994)
Professional Experience
2010: Superintendent, Victor Valley Union High School District, CA
2005: Superintendent, Central Unified School District, CA
2001: Assistant Superintendent, Educational Service, Buena Park School District, CA
1992: Middle School Principal, Torrance Unified School District, CA
Education History
1998 - Ed.D. Organizational Management, University of LaVerne, LaVerne, CA
- Dissertation: “The Impact of Male Gender Dissonance on Women’s Potential Eligibility for Advancement to the Position of Superintendent”
1973 - MS in Education, Syracuse University, NY
- Education and Curriculum
1971 - B.S. in Education, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
- Math and Science
Scholarly Activities
Book Publications
- Leading Legends: Female Superintendents Breaking Barriers with Purpose and Power (2025, Delmar Publishing).
- Bold Brilliance: Personal Power and Possibilities (2024, Delmar Publishing).
- Rules of the Game: How to Win a Job in Educational Leadership 3rd Edition (2024, Delmar Publishing).
- Super Power Moves: Strategies for Women to Gain Presence, Influence Others and Own the Room (Delmar Publishing, 2021).
- Show Your Worth, Girl: Be Bold, Speak Up, and Be Heard: Teen Inspirations, Hints, Tips, and Truths (Delmar Publishing, 2021).
- Love Your Age, Girl: Be Good to Yourself and Live to 100! Inspirations, Hints, Tips, and Truths (Delmar Publishing, 2020).
- Know Your Worth, Girl: Invest in Yourself and Spend it on You! Inspirations, Hints, Tips and Truths (Delmar Publishing, 2020).
- Don't Forget Your Lipstick, Girl: Sister to Sister Secrets for Gaining Confidence, Courage, and Power (Delmar Publishing, 2020).
- DON'T FORGET YOUR SWEATER, GIRL: Sister to Sister Secrets for Aging with Purpose and Humor (Delmar Publishing, 2019).
- 92 TIPS FROM THE TRENCHES: How to Stay in the Game as an Educational Leader (Delmar Publishing, 2014).
- The SeXX Factor: Breaking the Unwritten Codes that Sabotage Personal and Professional Lives (2003, New Horizon Press).
Published Articles
- Executive Presence
School Administrator (March 2020) - A Working Solution
COAST Magazine 2019 - Preparing for your Next Leadership Position
Leadership (Vol. 45, March/April 2016) - Leadership Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone
Leadership (Vol. 42, March/April 2013) - Go to the Head of the Class
The School Administrator, October 2009 - Superintendent Gets Taken for a Ride
The School Administrator, February 2009 - Cultivating Women Leaders through a Network
The School Administrator, November 2008 - Create Your Own Aspiring Administrators Symposium
Leadership, (Vol. 36, No. 1, September/October 2006) - Moving on Up: Promoting At Risk Students.
Leadership (Vol. 32, No 1. September/October 2002) - Breaking the Statistical Norm: Women in Educational Leadership.
Thrust for Educational Leadership (Vol. 23, No 7. May/June 1994)
Professional Experience
2010: Superintendent, Victor Valley Union High School District, CA
2005: Superintendent, Central Unified School District, CA
2001: Assistant Superintendent, Educational Service, Buena Park School District, CA
1992: Middle School Principal, Torrance Unified School District, CA
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