Assistant Director of Operations

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), 2004

Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), VCU, 2002

Facilitation & Peaceful Conflict Resolution, Central American Superior Council (CSUCA), 1997

Licentiate in Architecture, University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC), 1996

Email - imruiz@vcu.edu
Phone - 804.827.3422
Fax - 804.828.0127

Office - Annex Building, Rm 201
            310 N. Shafer St.
            Richmond, VA 23220

Curriculum Vita

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Ms. Ruiz is the Assistant Director of Operations of the School of World Studies. Before moving to the US, she worked in various academic-administrative positions and taught courses in Research Methods and Introduction to Design Theory at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, (1996 -1998). Her research work includes being co-author of 3 books and several professional publications and articles. In 1997 Ms. Ruiz was distinguished as the recipient of the national award conferred by the College of Architects of Guatemala, Colegio de Arquitectos de Guatemala, for her thesis work titled: "Urban Growth in the City of Esquipulas, Chiquimula and the Central American Parliament"," EL Crecimiento Urbano en la Ciudad Sede del PARLACEN, Esquipulas Chiquimula" (1996) Other relevant research studies include "The Moving Border" "La Frontera Movil" (1997), "The Architecture and Urbanism of the Banana Plantations: The United Fruit Company and the Victorian Style in Guatemala" "La Arquitectura y Urbanismo en las Plantaciones Bananeras: UFCo y el Estilo Victoriano en Guatemala" (1998) and the "The Homes of the Widows, form the Ixil Region: Nebaj, Cotzal and Chajul" "Las Viviendas de las Viudas de la Region Ixil: Nebaj, Colzal y Chajul"(1999). In 2001 Ms. Ruiz interned with the Guatemalan Office of the United Nations Development Program, where she was responsible of preparing a proposal for the creation of a GIS system to help municipalities to plan development, disaster prevention and management in Guatemala. Her main areas of academic interest include: long-term impacts of globalization, sustainability, trans-nationalism, multiculturalism, cultural patrimony & identity and urban form in Mesoamerica.