Michael Ritterbrown
2023-24 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow
Michael Ritterbrown has been a community college educator for 25 years. Beginning as an Adjunct English instructor at Glendale Community College in 1998, he was hired as a full-time instructor in 1999, elected Chair of English in 2005, and hired as Dean of Instructional Services in 2012. In 2015, he was selected to serve as Vice President of Instructional Services.
His doctoral studies focused on theories of change management and organizational structure, educational law and policy, and student success through high-impact instructional practice. Most recently, his focus has shifted to the implementation of change leading to equitable institutional and classroom practice. It is his belief that equity forms the foundation for student success, and that educational research has provided us with a clear framework to build successful programs and services. He believes collaborative decision making among all areas of the college is necessary to implement this framework, and that a structure based on equity requires fundamental change in the ways we approach instruction and student service. To further these goals, he has worked with others to restructure the College’s strategic plan and revise its mission, focusing on the implementation of Guided Pathways, active learning leading to applied knowledge, authentic assessment of learning, and restructuring and refocusing professional development.
Dr. Ritterbrown holds a BFA in Theater from University of Southern California, an MFA in Writing from Warren Wilson College, and an Ed.D in Community College Leadership from California State University Northridge.
His doctoral studies focused on theories of change management and organizational structure, educational law and policy, and student success through high-impact instructional practice. Most recently, his focus has shifted to the implementation of change leading to equitable institutional and classroom practice. It is his belief that equity forms the foundation for student success, and that educational research has provided us with a clear framework to build successful programs and services. He believes collaborative decision making among all areas of the college is necessary to implement this framework, and that a structure based on equity requires fundamental change in the ways we approach instruction and student service. To further these goals, he has worked with others to restructure the College’s strategic plan and revise its mission, focusing on the implementation of Guided Pathways, active learning leading to applied knowledge, authentic assessment of learning, and restructuring and refocusing professional development.
Dr. Ritterbrown holds a BFA in Theater from University of Southern California, an MFA in Writing from Warren Wilson College, and an Ed.D in Community College Leadership from California State University Northridge.