Marilou Ryder

Best-Selling Author | Doctoral Professor | Publisher | Changing the Conversation for Women & Girls

Huntington Beach, California, United States

About

Author • Educator • Empowerment Strategist for Women and Girls Dr. Marilou Ryder is on a mission to change the conversation for women and girls—one powerful book, one bold idea at a time. With over a decade as a K-12 superintendent and now a professor in the doctoral program at UMASS Global, she blends deep leadership expertise with an unwavering passion for women’s empowerment. As the bestselling author of Know Your Worth, Girl and her latest release Self-Sabotage: Ten Personal Power Tips to Be Your Best Self on a Good Day, Dr. Ryder offers straight-talking, research-backed tools to help women lead with purpose and confidence—in the workplace and beyond. She is also the founder and operator of Delmar Publishing, a unique and mission-driven publishing company dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls through inspiring and impactful books. Her groundbreaking research on gender dissonance, first introduced in her doctoral work and published in The Sexx Factor, remains a widely cited theory in gender studies. Whether she’s writing, teaching, or speaking, Marilou brings real-world insight, humor, and wisdom to every room (and Zoom) she’s in. A multi-award-winning educator and author, Dr. Ryder continues to create empowering content and practical resources to help women stop shrinking and start shining.

Experience

  • Professor, UMASS Global, Ed.D. Program Organizational Leadership at University of Massachusetts
    Nov 2012 - Present · 13 yrs 8 mos

  • Publisher and Owner at DELMAR PUBLISHING
    Sep 2012 - Present · 13 yrs 10 mos

    Delmar Publishing is a boutique press dedicated to amplifying authors' voices through powerful, purpose-driven storytelling. With over a dozen published titles—including Bold Brilliance, Promotion Power, and the Sister to Sister Secrets series—Delmar Publishing specializes in bringing men and women’s leadership, resilience, and lived experiences to life on the page. We also publish research-based nonfiction books that translate complex ideas into accessible, real-world insights. As an author, educator, and mentor, I’ve spent my career helping women and girls recognize their strength, claim their space, and write their own next chapter—literally and figuratively. Through publishing, I continue that mission: supporting new and seasoned authors who have something important to say and the courage to say it. Whether you're looking to publish your first book or simply find one that speaks to your journey—Delmar Publishing is where stories of impact begin. https://www.delmar-publishing.com

  • Owner and Managing Partner at Ryder and Associates
    Jan 2010 - Present · 16 yrs 6 mos

    Ryder and Associates is a full-service career consulting firm that provides executive mentoring and career planning for aspiring administrators or those wanting to move ahead in their careers.

  • Superintendent of Schools at Victor Valley Union High School District
    Jun 2009 - Apr 2012 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    Superintendent of Schools

  • Superintendent of Schools at Central unified school district
    Jul 2006 - Aug 2010 · 4 yrs 2 mos