Dr. Ruiz has been in the counseling field for almost 40 years as an instructor/professor, clinician, and supervisor. His doctoral degree is in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He is Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education at Winona State University (WSU) and an adjunct professor in Counseling and Psychological Services at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota (SMUMN). He is now retired and has retired (in good standing) his licenses as Licensed Psychologist (LP) and Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Minnesota (LPC).

He has developed and taught courses in supervision at both WSU and SMUMN, this includes both in-person and online classes. He has supervised internships at WSU for graduate students preparing for licensure. He has also supervised graduates of WSU and SMUMN fulfilling the state’s required post-degree clinical practice for licensure in Minnesota as a LP or LPC.

He was a counselor and supervisor at the Walk-In Counseling Clinic in Minneapolis, MN. This clinic provides free counseling services to culturally diverse communities in Minnesota, primarily in Minneapolis but also St. Paul and also draws from the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Dr. Ruiz has served as a professional member on the Minnesota Board of Psychology, which licenses psychologists in Minnesota, and on the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, which licenses professional counselors in Minnesota (both LPCs and LPCCs). He has also served as a board member of Casa de Esperanza (now Esperanza United), which serves as a resource for Latinas and their families in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, as well as statewide and nationally.