Director, Stryker Corporation
B.A., University of Northern Colorado
M.A., Western Michigan University
Spelman College Board of Trustees: Elected in 1997
Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair, Arts, Innovation & Technology Committee
City of Residence: Richland, Michigan
Ronda Stryker is a member of the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows, serves on the Board of Directors of Stryker Corporation and is vice chair of Greenleaf Trust, a Michigan chartered trust bank. Stryker previously served as a director at Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Community Foundation and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. As co-chair of the Women’s Education Coalition, she was instrumental in helping to raise more than $1 million to form the organization, which supports women who return to school as non-traditional students. Stryker’s philanthropic interests are focused on the empowerment of women and support of non-traditional student enhancement programs at colleges and universities. Additionally, her charitable gifting seeks to assist in the elimination of racism, sexism and homophobia.
I have always known that when a woman receives a college degree, the entire family and future generations of that family benefit directly. Higher education for women, women of color, non-traditional women students and women returning to education after raising families has held high importance in my gifts of time, talent and treasure.
At other colleges and universities where I have participated in assisting women gain access to education, I have witnessed real life stories that demonstrate positive life changing events that result from increased opportunities created by earned degrees. My opportunity to serve Spelman students has both validated and reinforced this long held belief and passion. I am honored and grateful to serve such an incredible school of highly talented women.