Ashley Ruiz
Atlanta,GA
Summary
Driven Professor whose expertise bridges social, disaster, and nursing science in anticipation of future threats to health equity. Proven track record in securing grant funding and leading interdisciplinary research initiatives. Dedicated mentor to undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral and early-career research fellows. Active leader in advances in health equity and gender-based violence prevention. Committed to integrating climate-related research with women and gender studies to address emerging health challenges.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Assistant Research Professor
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
05.2024 - Current
- Secured grant funding for research initiatives from prominent sources, enhancing departmental growth.
- Mentored graduate students, fostering an inclusive and supportive academic environment.
- Organized and facilitated workshops to promote successful interdisciplinary collaboration, yielding innovative research solutions.
- Presented research findings at national and international conferences, effectively communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences.
- Contributed to the publication of high-impact research articles, advancing the field through bridging social sciences, liberal arts, and the humanities within nursing science.
Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Arizona State University, ASU
06.2022 - 04.2024
- Presented findings at academic conferences, effectively communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences.
- Contributed to the publication of multiple high-impact research articles, showcasing the significance of the findings.
Education
Ph.D. - Nursing
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI05.2022
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
University of Wisconsin
05.2015
Associate Degree - Nursing
Madison College
12.2013
Accomplishments
• Strong publication record with 35 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact factor journals (i.e. Social Sciences & Medicine, Nursing Inquiry, and Climate Risk Management) and creative platforms of scholarly inquiry (i.e. Nursology).
•Led the development of a theoretical framework to explore the syndemic effects of COVID-19 on intimate partner violence among Black and Indigenous women in the Midwestern United States through the use of Indigenous Feminism and Black Feminist thought through community-based approaches
• Optimizing scientific impact to improve healthcare delivery related to disaster management and violence prevention. Demonstrated through presentations at 30 international, national, and regional professional conferences, and multiple invited state-wide trainings (i.e. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia) to improve healthcare responses to sexual assault in the United States.
•Led the development of a theoretical framework to explore the syndemic effects of COVID-19 on intimate partner violence among Black and Indigenous women in the Midwestern United States through the use of Indigenous Feminism and Black Feminist thought through community-based approaches
• Optimizing scientific impact to improve healthcare delivery related to disaster management and violence prevention. Demonstrated through presentations at 30 international, national, and regional professional conferences, and multiple invited state-wide trainings (i.e. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia) to improve healthcare responses to sexual assault in the United States.
Certification
Nursing Council of New Zealand - Registered Nurse Registration 374018
Highlighted Publications
+Ruiz, A., *Munoz, L., *Walsh, T., *Hardy, G., *Ranjbari, B., Leslie, S., & Nevitt, M. (2026). A scoping review of rapid-onset climate-related disasters & gender-based violence against women. Climate Risk Management, 52, 100809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2026.100809
Ruiz, A. M., Moore, K. M.*, Woehrle, L. M., Kako, P., Davis, K. C., & Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2023). Experiences of dehumanizing: Examining secondary victimization within the nurse-patient relationship among African American women survivors of sexual assault in the Upper Midwest. Social science & medicine (1982), 329, 116029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116029
Ruiz, A., Luebke, J., Moore, K., Vann, A. D., Gonzalez, M., Jr, Ochoa-Nordstrum, B., Barbon, R., Gondwe, K., &
Mkandawire-Valhmu, L. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviours of Indigenous and Black women experiencing intimate partner violence in the United States. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 10.1111/jan.15528. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15528
Publications Under Peer-Review
1. +Ruiz, A., Pelkmans, J., *Ranjbari, B., & Higgins, M. (2025). Measuring the Relationship of Trauma-Violence Informed Care & Racial Discrimination on Secondary Victimization of Sexual Assault Survivors in Healthcare. Journal of Health Equity.
2. + Ruiz, A., *Moore, K., Weitzel, J., Hammet, J., Kirwan, M., Stewart, R., Mkandawire-Valhmu, L., & Gondwe, K. (2025). Secondary victimization of sexual assault survivors during healthcare provider interactions: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse.
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Extramural Research Funding
Project Name: The Intersection of Natural Disasters and Gender-Based Violence Against Women: An Examination of the Social and Environmental Determinants Impact on Women’s Health
Sponsor: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences through the Pediatric and Reproductive Environmental Health Scholars (PREHS) K12
Project Name: Examining the Healthcare Models Impact on Black Women’s Experiences of Secondary Victimization Following Sexual Assault: A Maricopa-county Based Pilot Study
Sponsor: The Rita Hillman and Alex Foundation
Intramural Funding
Project Name: Closing the Gaps in Prenatal Care: A Healthcare-Academia Partnership for Maternal and Infant Health Equity
Sponsor: Office of Nursing Research Pilot Award: Emory Healthcare Nursing Partnership
Timeline
Assistant Research Professor
Emory University
05.2024 - Current
Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Arizona State University, ASU
06.2022 - 04.2024
Ph.D. - Nursing
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Bachelors of Science - Nursing
University of Wisconsin
Associate Degree - Nursing
Madison College