°µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø is pleased to announce the appointment of Francisco M. Ruiz, Ed.D. as the new Director of Student Services, effective immediately. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Dean, Dr. Ruiz will lead initiatives focused on student engagement, success, persistence, and retention for undergraduate students.
In this role, Dr. Ruiz will provide leadership and expert guidance to the Fort Wayne campus, overseeing the IUFW pre-major academic advisor(s) and the 21st Century Scholar Coach, as well as advising staff in Nursing and Public Health and faculty advisors. He will serve as the primary point of contact for undergraduate success, student conduct, and well-being, including federally mandated hazing education and prevention. Dr. Ruiz also convenes the Student Success Committee, providing holistic guidance on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Student Success initiatives at IU Fort Wayne
Ruiz brings more than a decade of experience in higher education student services leadership, academic advising, and retention. He has held leadership roles within the University System of Maryland and at the University of Baltimore at the Universities at Shady Grove, where he led cross-campus collaboration, professional staff development, and comprehensive student success initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as an academic advisor and registrar support at Bernard M. Baruch College in New York, NY.
“Francisco brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to student success,” said Deborah Garrison, IU Fort Wayne Inaugural Vice Chancellor and Dean. “His dedication to engagement, retention, and student well-being makes him an outstanding addition to the IU Fort Wayne community. We’re excited to work alongside him as we continue to grow and support our students’ achievements.”
Ruiz earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership in Higher Education from Frostburg State University, a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English from The City College of New York.