Ann Ritter

About Ann Ritter

At Alpha Rho Leadership Communications, I help build individuals and leadership teams from the inside out. Guidance and support on clear, authentic communication, thought leadership, community building and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are what I provide—whether to individuals or organizations. But I also step beyond DE & I to the next stage-belonging. My support can focus on personal leadership development, team/organizational structure, corporate identity, or leading by example to benefit all stakeholders. “By example\" can mean for profit (market leadership), by reach (a service organization) or by impact (a unique nonprofit-even a small one). A rich and diverse skill built from years of traditional business experience, university teaching, corporate training and coaching is my foundation. But that foundation is uniquely integrated with an almost equal number of years of academic research, professional stage and dance experience, and a 35-year yoga practice. The combined perspective enables me to help individuals tap into authentic presence, to increase personal agency for the good of their organization. Diversity in action, or multiculturalism, is a particular emphasis of my ongoing research, teaching and coaching. Multiculturalism refers to the transcultural student or professional, living-of necessity—in the intersection between two or more cultures or subcultures because of scholastic, career or personal responsibilities. In an increasingly complex and mobile global environment, learning how to succeed transculturally is a vital skill. It is a skill that requires being at home within oneself, and having continual access to the deeper authetic self as a guiding and orienting principle. My experience and insights can help make the learning curve an easier one for organizational change/DEI & B efforts as well as individuals’ feelings of recognition and acceptance. A cultural anthropologist is how I define myself. I hold a PhD in human and organizational systems/leadership studies from Fielding Graduate University, where I am a current fellow in the Institute for Social Innovation. I also have taught for many years, including time as clinical faculty in GA State University\'s Robinson College of Business. My take on what we need for to achieve true implementation of DEI? Author Barry Lopez said it best, “Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion.”

Experience

1. Fellow--institute for Social Innovation

   Fielding Graduate University

   May 2019 — Present · Santa Barbara, CA, US

Education

• Columbia University in the City of New York, AC4

  Fellowship, 21st-Century Communication

  2015 — 2016

• Columbia College (SC)

  BA Speech Communication and Theatre/minor in Visual Art, drama and communication, arts production and administration; television production

• Fielding Graduate University

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Human and Organizational Systems

  2010 — 2016

• Georgia State University

  MS Marketing, Marketing and Communication, Public Relations

• Coordinated Management of Meaning Institute

  Fellowship, 21st-Century Communication Challenges--Permanent Liminality

  2016 — 2017