Eddy Ruiz, PhD, Named Inaugural Assistant Vice Chancellor of Climate and Belonging
Eddy Ruiz, PhD, joins UCSF as the inaugural Assistant Vice Chancellor of Climate and Belonging. In this newly created role, Eddy leads and orchestrates belonging initiatives for both the campus and the health system. This work includes deploying the UCSF Climate Survey, developing post-survey action-planning and interventions, and aligning current climate initiatives within the Office of Diversity and Outreach and across UCSF to foster a greater sense of belonging and inclusion among our faculty, students and staff. The Assistant Vice Chancellor of Climate and Belonging also oversees the LGBT, Multicultural and Disability resource centers and CARE advocate programs.
The UCSF Anti-Racism Initiative’s first pillar is dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming and health climate for our community, and Eddy brings more than 20 years of professional experience and academic inquiry in this area.
“I thrive in people-first, evidenced-based, and student-centered cultures,” Eddy says. He most recently served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the San Jacinto College District (TX), where he worked to advance complex initiatives and institutional priorities, aligning equity efforts, facilitating communication, and implementing strategies that reduce bias and increase diversity.
Eddy also served as Associate Director, University Honors Program (UHP) and First-Year Seminars (FYS) at University of California, Davis and Director of Multicultural Affairs at University of Idaho, Moscow. Other past positions include Director of Student Success and Innovative Education, University of Maine and Researcher – Higher Education and Organizational Change, UCLA.
Eddy holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education from UCLA, and wrote his dissertation on campus climate, culture, and organizational change. He completed a Master of Arts in Higher Education and Organizational Change at UCLA, and a Master of Arts in History at the University of Oklahoma, Norman.