Courtney Ryder joined the UT Tyler Athletics staff in January of 2026 as the Coordinator of Creative Content.
A December 2021 graduate of James Madison University’s School of Media Arts and Design, Ryder soon accepted an offseason internship with the Detroit Lions, assisting with the daily and long-term management of the team website, shadowing the social media and photography departments, and working key events like the 2022 NFL Draft.
Ryder then moved home to the Washington, D.C. area and began a season-long internship with her childhood team, the Washington Capitals. Ryder captured photo and video content at practices, games, community and charity events, and more, contributing heavily to the team’s social content throughout the 2022-23 season and sharing several top-performing posts that were reposted by outlets such as NHL and ESPN.
Most recently, Ryder worked with the Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers, as the photography and design assistant. She photographed all RoughRiders home games, marketing and promotional content, and merchandise items for the team store’s online shop. Additionally, she produced short-form vertical video content for social media and platform-native graphics that drove engagement, promoted key initiatives, and generated sales for multiple departments.
When not working, Ryder enjoys traveling the world, exploring the outdoors, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and spending quality time with friends and family.
