Jack M. and Lila J. Ryder

Dr. Jack M. Ryder, a native of Kentucky, served two years in the U.S. Army. Following an honorable discharge, he earned three degrees from Michigan State University, the final degree in 1962, a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. Following his undergraduate degree, he served as teacher and Principal in the Anglo American schools in Athens, Greece for two years. Dr. Ryder served as Superintendent in the Brady Community Schools in Saginaw County and the Cassopolis Community Schools in Cassopolis, Michigan.

Following his doctorate in Educational Administration, Dr. Ryder served in administrative roles with Purdue University and Indiana University, becoming Vice Chancellor and Dean for Administrative Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis prior to his appointment as President of Saginaw Valley State University November 1, 1974.

During President Ryder’s term as President of Saginaw Valley State University, major expansion of new and renovated facilities occurred. Among those facilities was Pioneer Hall, the Melvin J. Zahnow Library, the Arbury Fine Arts Center, including the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery, the Science Building, Brown Hall, Administrative Services Building, the Pine Grove Apartments, the football stadium, the track and other athletic facilities along with the Health and Physical Education center which, upon Dr. Ryder’s retirement, was named “The Ryder Center” in recognition of President and Mrs. Ryder for their service to the university.

During President Ryder’s tenure, student enrollment grew by 155% from 2,350 students to 6,000 students with the number of faculty increasing by 120%. The academic program of the university was reorganized and expanded to include programs in Engineering, Technology and Nursing. The international exchange programs of faculty and students were initiated and expanded to include Argentina, China, France, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland and Taiwan.

Mrs. Lila J. Ryder, a native of Indiana, received her B.A. from Purdue University where she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, a teaching certificate from Ball State University, and her M. A. from Michigan State University.

Mrs. Ryder became First Lady at Saginaw Valley State University beginning in 1974 when her husband, Dr. Jack M. Ryder, became the second president of SVSU. Mrs. Ryder served on numerous committees for facility development and campus-wide events with extensive involvement in fund raising. In 1986, Mrs. Ryder became Special Assistant to the Executive Director of Development for the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum project. In this capacity she worked closely with the architects and Marshall M. Fredericks, as well as raising private dollars to realize the culmination of one of the world’s outstanding museums now housed on the Saginaw Valley State University campus. In the community, Mrs. Ryder served as President and board member of the Saginaw Symphony Association, and as board member of the American Red Cross and United Way of Saginaw County.

Mrs. Ryder, along with her husband, President Ryder, was a loyal supporter of Cardinal athletics and numerous other student organizations, receiving recognition from the SVSU Board of Control and the SVSU Foundation Board for her devotion, dedication and contributions toward the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and for her contributions to, and support of, international programs and student activities.