SUU's Kathy Ruiz elected to CSWE National Nominating Committee
Published: July 17, 2026 | Author: Ali Maynard | Read Time: 2 minutes
Kathy Ruiz, an assistant professor and director of social work field education at Southern Utah University (SUU), has been elected to join the Council on Social Work Education's National Nominating Committee (CSWE). In this role, Ruiz will advocate and prepare nominees for leadership positions within the CSWE and beyond. Ruiz began her three-year term on July 1.
"I am excited to bring a field-practice-centered and rural perspective to this role and advocate for leadership that understands the realities of undergraduate education beyond urban and resource-rich settings," Ruiz said. "I aim to nominate leaders who value rural innovation, student-centered field education, and collaborative governance."
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the association that accredits social work education programs in the United States by creating and updating educational policy guidelines that BSW and MSW education programs must follow. CSWE's highly accredited members are dedicated to advancing quality social work education, providing opportunities for leadership and professional development, and empowering social workers to play a central role in achieving their goals of social and economic justice. Each year, CSWE opens several committee positions. Ruiz was selected as a nominee to serve on the National Nominating Committee as an undergraduate faculty representative.
"I am motivated by a belief that the strength of social work education depends on inclusive leadership that reflects the range of programs and communities that schools serve," said Ruiz. Ruiz earned her Masters' in Social Work from the University of Denver in 2017 and has worked in a variety of roles since, including foster care service, criminal justice, inpatient residential treatment, and more. She has also been a backpack instructor and has a Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist license through the Association for Experiential Education. Along with teaching classes at SUU, Ruiz will begin her PhD in social work this coming fall.
SUU's Department of Family Life and Human Development offers both a bachelor's and master's degree in social work, among a wide variety of other programs and degrees, as well as social work field experience. T-birds can speak with their advisor if they are interested in exploring these educational paths.
Contact Information
SUU Marketing & Communications
435-586-5400
kimberlysawyer@suu.edu