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Dr. Ruiz Named ULM Associate AD for Student-Athlete Excellence

Dr. Ruiz Named ULM Associate AD for Student-Athlete Excellence

General Jul 26
MONROE, La. – Dr. Alberto "Bert" Ruiz, who has spent the past 28 years in higher education in teaching, research, and administration, has been named Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Excellence at ULM. Ruiz officially joined the ULM Athletics Department staff on July 1, 2021.
 
He previously served as Dean of the College of Education and Human Performance at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) before being appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs at ULM in June 2019.
 
Dr. Ruiz has served as an avid sports official for the past 30 years. He was selected as one of fifteen officials out of two thousand from the State of Texas to officiate from 2001-04 in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Boys' Basketball Tournament. In addition, he officiated in the NCAA Women's Division II National Tournament, the only South Texan to achieve that honor and distinction in recent history. He was a men's and women's basketball official in the Great West Conference, Lone Star Conference, Heartland Conference and several junior college conferences. He officiated the NCAA Division II National Track and Field meet recently.
 
"Dr. Ruiz has an extensive background in academic affairs but also served many years as a basketball official on the collegiate level," ULM Athletics Director Scott McDonald said. "His experience, skills and passion will help us in working with our housing, admissions, financial aid, scholarships, international students and other administrative areas."
 
"I'm very excited about going to the Department of Athletics at ULM," Dr. Ruiz said. "I'm looking forward to learning and understanding the complexities of an athletic department at the NCAA Division I level. It is a privilege to work with such outstanding coaches and staff."
 
Having received higher education executive training, as VPAA and Dean, his primary areas of expertise are: Academic Program Development and Management; Assessment of Teaching / Learning and Program Effectiveness; Identifying External Funding for Program Growth and Development; Planning Longitudinally and Thinking Strategically; Outreach Connection to Public Schools; Educator Preparation Program; Leading Successful Doctoral Programs; and Management and Development of Distance Education and Remote Site Programs. TAMUK developed a partnership with Premont ISD which was the first partnership of its kind in the country to turn around a school district.
 
While Dean at TAMUK, enrollment growth averaged nearly 5% per year, research external funding increased from $400,000 to $1,675,000, 25% increase in weighted semester credit hour productions (WSCHs), retention increased over 16% and faculty research and productivity increased three-fold.  TAMUK was named the fastest-growing university in the U.S. for two consecutive years. He led the efforts for the college to offer more programs online and was the only college in the country to have two PPOHA grants from the U.S. Department of Education at the same time, as well as a $2.75 million teacher preparation grant award.
 
As a teacher, Dr. Ruiz has taught Sport Coaching and Officiating, Sports Administration, Sports Law, and College Teaching Physical Education. As a researcher, Dr. Ruiz has focused on children's attitudes toward physical activity, self-reported physical activity, youth physical activity, sport coaching and officiating, athletic administration and education. As a result, he has published scholarly articles and abstracts and made several peer-reviewed presentations at international, national and state conferences.
 
Outside of work, Dr. Ruiz strives to be a positive role model for youth. The youngest of ten children, he is a first-generation college graduate. In 2008, he was recognized as the Rising Star Recipient by the Javelina Alumni Association, was named in the Who's Who among America's Teachers in 2007 and 2009 and received the Alice High School Alumni Award in 2010. He has served as President of the Rotary Sunrise Club of Kingsville, served on AACTE National Board, West Monroe Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the community.  
 
Dr. Ruiz attended TAMUK and obtained his Bachelor of Science, as well his Master in Science, in kinesiology with a specialization in athletic administration in 1995. He earned his Doctorate of Education in 2001 from the University of Houston in physical education pedagogy. He is an avid runner and has completed five marathons and one ultra marathon.

 
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