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About Maria Luisa Ruiz

María Luisa Ruiz, a dedicated educator and researcher, earned her teaching credential from San José State and completed her MA and PhD in Spanish and Humanities at Stanford University. She currently holds the position of Full Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Saint Mary’s College of California, where she teaches in the Spanish and Latin American Studies Program. Additionally, she served as the interim Senior Diversity Officer at Saint Mary's College (2022-2024). She currently serves as the inaugural Senior Academic Diversity Officer in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
In her multifaceted role, Dr. Ruiz also directs the Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies and Global and Regional Studies, while contributing as a faculty advisory board member for the Women’s and Gender Studies program. Her commitment to academia and student welfare has been recognized through awards such as the Brother Manuel Vega Latino Empowerment Award (2011) and the Saint Mary’s College Faculty Service Award (2018). Her dedication to student welfare have been further recognized through the prestigious Saint John Baptist De La Salle Award (2024), honoring her exceptional commitment to the Saint Mary’s College community.
Dr. Ruiz's scholarly pursuits have led her to participate in esteemed programs like the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program in Mexico, where she explored African heritage during the summer program called "The Third Root". Her research on representations of Mexican women in the context of the drug trade has gained acclaim for its innovative insights.
Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Ruiz's article “Uneasy Lies the Head That Wears a Crown: Narcoqueens, Beauty Queens, and Melodrama in Narconarratives,” published in the Middle Atlantic Review of Latin American Studies (MARLAS), received the James Street Prize in 2023. Currently, she is diligently working on a book on this topic in collaboration with Lexington Press.
Dr. Ruiz's dedication to academic excellence underscores her value to Saint Mary’s College and the broader academic community. Driven by her passion for education, advocacy, and cultural exploration, Dr. Maria Luisa Ruiz exemplifies excellence and leadership in academia, making her an invaluable asset the Saint Mary's College community.





Positions

2018 - Present Director, Institute for Latino and Latin American Studies, Saint Mary's College of California
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2009 - Present Member, Hip Hop and Social Justice Committee, Saint Mary's College of California
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2009 - Present Member, Sexual Assault Crisis Response Team (SARCT), Saint Mary's College of California
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2007 - Present Faculty Advisor, Hermanas Unidas, Saint Mary's College of California
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2006 - Present Board Member, International Area Studies, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Global and Regional Studies
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2006 - Present Member, Women's Studies Board, Saint Mary's College of California
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ World Languages and Cultures
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Women's and Gender Studies
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ School of Liberal Arts
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Present Faculty Member, Saint Mary's College of California ‐ Global and Regional Studies
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2013 - 2014 Director, Global and Regional Studies, Saint Mary's College of California
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2002 - 2003 Graduate Writing Assistant, Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities, Stanford University
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Teaching Fellowship, University of California, Irvine
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Curriculum Vitae

Disciplines

Research Interests

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Professional Service and Affiliations

2014 - Present Judge, International Latino Book Awards
Present Member, Alpha Mu Gamma
Present Member, Latin American Studies Association
Present Member, Modern Languages Association
Present Member, Saint Mary’s Honor Society
2004 - 2005 Mentor, Puente Program
2002 - 2003 Graduate Student Liaison, Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford University
2000 - 2001 Peer Mentor, Partners for Academic Excellence, Stanford University
2000 - 2001 Mentor, Spanish for Home-Background Speakers, Stanford University
2000 Graduate Student Representative, Stanford University
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Honors and Awards

  • Research Fellow, Office of the Provost Faculty Research Grant (2016-2017)
  • Br. Manuel Vega Faculty/Staff Latino Empowerment Award (2011)
  • Scholarship for Teaching and Learning, Saint Mary's College of California

Courses

  • Spanish 106: Advanced Conversation
  • Spanish 10: Conversation and Composition
  • Spanish 11: Introduction to Literature
  • Spanish 9: Spanish for Spanish Speakers
  • JanTerm 136: Border Crossings: A literary and visual history of Latin America
  • JanTerm: Constructing the City: Limits, Boundaries and Alternative Spaces (team-taught course)
  • Spanish 130: Representing the Latin American Body: Race, Class and Gender in Latin American Literature, Film and Photography
  • Spanish 141: Survey of Latin American Literature II
  • WOMST 100 Body of the Nation: Mapping Gender, Identity and Performance in Latin America

Education

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2005 Ph.D. Spanish and Humanities, Stanford University
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2000 M.A. Spanish, Stanford University
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1998 Single Subject Teaching Credential Spanish, San Jose State University
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Links

Contact Information

Office: Dante Hall 306
Phone: 925-631-4568
Mail: P.O. Box 4730

Email:

Publications (8)

Honors, Awards, & Grants (4)

Presentations (8)