Kenneth Gilmore Ryder (April 30, 1924 – October 29, 2012) was the 4th president of Northeastern University, a post he held from 1975 to 1989.
Ken Ryder was a good student throughout his early years, excelling in history and public speaking.
"[2]: 13 But without the scholarship, there would have been no college and that fact shaped Ryder’s view of higher education for the rest of his life.
The fellowship shaped my view about the importance of helping people – whatever their financial background – to get a college education so they can develop their potential.
Moved by the invasion of Pearl Harbor, Ryder signed up for the naval reserves a month after the attack, and enlisted in the Navy on December 10, 1942, at the age of 18.
He took a leave from his junior year at Boston University and undertook months of naval training before being deployed to the Pacific.
Ryder’s four-month training was held at Camp MacDonough Midshipman School in Plattsburgh, NY.
After leaving Camp MacDonough, Ryder was assigned as a naval officer on the USS Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 803 [(LCI (L) 803].
On August 20, 1944, Ryder and the rest of the ship’s crew completed its training and received orders to report to New York for the outfitting and commissioning of LCI (L) 803.
The following is an excerpt of the History of the LCI (L) 803 compiled by William F. Confalone: A full history of the LCI (L) 803's service in World War II can be found at: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150803h.htm “On Saturday, September 2, 1944, after a thorough inspection of the ship by the prospective Commanding Officer, the crew was mustered on the gun deck.
Jordan read his orders from the Chief of Naval Operations to accept the USS LCI (L) 803 for the Navy and placed the ship in full commission.
As a result, "The 803 was released from duty at Okinawa on August 13. and returned to Leyte for necessary repairs and equally necessary relaxation for the men.
...At the end of the month of November the 803 discontinued her duty as a liberty ship and on order made ready for sea.
As stated by Antoinette Fredrick in her book on the history of Northeastern University, Coming of Age: The Ryder Years, “The war had brought the young lieutenant into firsthand contact with one of the momentous conflicts of western civilization, and this, along with American history, became the focus of his academic career.
'"[2]: 14 This became the defining character trait that guided his life—placid, thoughtful and unflappable, Ryder seldom argued or raised his voice, but could stand his ground and calmly debate the issues that mattered to him.
While working on his masters, Ryder began teaching at Cambridge Junior College and in 1949, accepted a position at Northeastern University as a history and government instructor.
Ryder often spent a good deal of time with his students, counseling them on academic and non-academic matters, and he was widely admired for his love of history and relaxed, but effective manner in the classroom.
1975, largely due to his knowledge of the university administration and its procedures, his affection for the needs of the student body, and his close ties to the faculty, Ryder was named the fourth president of Northeastern by the Board of Trustees after the retirement of Asa Knowles.
By the last year of his presidency in 1989, over 19 academic centers and research institutes had been established, honors programs developed, satellite locations had been created, and numerous buildings added to the main campus.
[3]” In addition to physical expansion, Ryder was committed to improving the quality and scope of the academic programs offered at Northeastern as well.
Having come from the History department, he was personally committed to establishment and expansion of academic programs in the arts and humanities.
In addition to these areas, he also understood that Northeastern, with its long history of quality engineering programs, could play a role in the emerging technology fields.
In 1978, he founded the Excellence in Teaching Awards, a merit program to recognize teachers, and in 1983, he established the Instructional Development Fund to encourage teachers to improve the quality of their teaching through experimentation with instructional content, innovative procedures, or technological resources.
As a result, co-op placements expanded both in number and in variety and Ryder made great strides in reaching out to employers to participate in the program.
Ryder also understood the importance of having close and working relationships with elected officials at all levels of government.
He managed to sound as if he were talking one on one even if he were behind a podium and there were 800 people on the other side, or if he were at a desk and there were 40 faculty senators facing him, or if he were at a table confronting six agenda committee members.
“This speaking talent, which has been remarked on by almost everyone who ever heard Ryder speak, gave his hearers the sense that their president was actually talking to rather than at them and went a long way toward establishing rapport.”[2]: 45 After 40 years of service to Northeastern, fourteen of which he had served as President, Ryder submitted his resignation to NU's Board of Trustees in 1989.
After stepping down as President, Ryder became Chancellor when John A. Curry, a former NU administrator, was appointed as his successor.