Vanessa Ruiz

Vanessa Ruiz is a career journalist and executive who currently serves as the President of BearFruit, a company that helps charities, nonprofits, and social impact organizations find funding for their missions.1 Prior to this role, she held the position of Deputy Vice President for Educational Outreach and Student Services (EOSS) at Arizona State University (ASU).3

Ruiz has a diverse background that includes:

1. Journalism: She is a three-time Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist with nearly two decades of experience working in Miami, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.12

2. Education: Ruiz holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in International Relations from Florida International University and a Master's degree in Liberal Studies from Arizona State University.1

3. Academic roles: At ASU, she progressed from professor of practice to director, and eventually to deputy vice president.12

4. Community involvement: She serves on the boards of the Phoenix Art Museum and CALA Alliance.1

5. Expertise: Ruiz is bilingual and of Colombian roots, having grown up between Miami, Colombia, and Spain.1

In her role at ASU, Ruiz led teams in creating strategic partnerships to advance educational attainment and economic opportunity among Arizona families.2 She has been instrumental in nourishing partnerships with K-12 schools, foundations, corporations, and other community stakeholders.2