Ellen Ryder Named New Public Affairs Director For Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Ellen Ryder, the owner of a Manhattan-based communications firm, has been appointed the new director of Public Affairs for the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. She will assume her duties in June.

“We are all delighted to welcome Ellen Ryder to Holy Cross,” says Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president of the College. “As the daughter and sister of alumni, she understands our mission and our goals, and her vast experience will enable her to articulate both to the wider world. Moreover, she is intelligent and well-educated, with broad experience in publishing and public relations. Ellen will be a major asset to the College.”

Ryder worked for 10 years as the founder and owner of Ellen Ryder Communications, LLC, a full-service public relations firm in New York City. Specializing in the representation of publishers, authors, artists and educational programs, her company had as clients Harper’s Magazine, the American Society of Magazine Editors, Scientific American and the National Book Foundation/National Book Awards. Prior to founding the company in 1994, Ryder worked in publicity and promotion management positions at consumer magazines. She established the in-house publicity department at GQ magazine (1992-94), directing press coverage, special events and media relations. From 1989-1992, she served as vice president, corporate and public affairs at Harper's Magazine, handling all editorial publicity and sales promotion. She began her career in magazines as promotion director at the award-winning regional magazine, New England Monthly, (1984-89).

“This is an exemplary pairing,” says Frank Vellaccio, the College’s senior vice president. “Ellen has an extensive and diverse background that includes journalism, media relations, marketing and management. We’re all quite excited about her strategies for publicizing the extraordinary work being done by remarkable people on Mount St. James.”

Co-author, with Charles P. Daly and Patrick Henry, of The Magazine Publishing Industry (Allyn & Bacon, 1996), Ryder has conducted seminars sponsored by the Magazine Publishers of America and the Council for Literary Magazines and Presses and has lectured at the publishing programs at Columbia, Radcliffe, Rice University, Fordham University and the University of Chicago. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at New York University.

“I’m thrilled and privileged to have this opportunity to work with the community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni at Holy Cross,” Ryder said. “The College has stories of success and achievement unfolding on campus every day, as well as a rich history and a magnificent liberal arts tradition. I’m looking forward to building on the College’s strong communications program, and telling those stories to an ever-wider audience.”

Ryder earned her master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Wellesley College. She is a native of Worcester, Mass.