exns professor matthew ruiz selected as presidential fellow
presidential fellows program brings insight into overall viewpoints in higher education.
janel shoun-smith | 615.966.7078 |
matthew ruiz, professor and director of graduate studies in exercise and nutrition science, was selected to become a presidential faculty fellow during the 2019-20 school year.
ruiz, who came to lipscomb’s kinesiology department in 2015, has previously served as the president of the lipscomb faculty senate and is a graduate of the council for christian colleges & universities leadership development institute. he is also a graduate of lipscomb’s connect program, designed to promote engagement of lipscomb faculty in the nashville community.
as a lipscomb presidential fellow, ruiz has been tasked to analyze trends in higher education and make recommendations for how lipscomb can be prepared to address issues on the horizon such as changing technologies, student demographics or societal attitudes regarding higher ed.
he also attends all executive and leadership team meetings and meetings of the board of trustees.
“i want to look back on this year and be able to say that i contributed to something concrete and positive for future students,” said ruiz, noting that he has long been interested in a career in higher education administration.
the experience also allows him to understand the viewpoints of both faculty and administrators and thus serve as a facilitator on campus, he said.
before coming to lipscomb, ruiz was on faculty at huntington university from 2013 to 2015, serving as chair of the department of kinesiology and sport leadership in 2013.