Judith Ruderman graduated from the University of Rochester in 1964 with a B.A (summa cum laude) in English in the Honors Program. She married Robert Ruderman (1963, 1968M) shortly after commencement in 1964. In 1965 she received her M.A.

Dr. Kathrine Koller (1903-1993), an authority on 17th century English literature, was the first woman head of a major department at the University of Rochester.