Robert M. Ruiz

Executive Director

Robert M. Ruiz is a pivotal leader in Oklahoma’s educational and community landscape, currently serving as the Executive Director of Puentes y Puertas Dual-Language Community School, one of the state’s first dual-language community schools designed to serve Hispanic and multilingual families. In this role, he oversees the launch and growth of the school, guiding its academic, operational, and financial development, and building strategic partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability. Puentes y Puertas is set to become a model for bilingual education and community-driven school design in Oklahoma. Previously, Robert was the Chief Innovation and Technology Officer and Executive Director of External Affairs at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), where he directed strategic initiatives at one of the state’s largest higher education institutions serving 18,000 students. His leadership strengthened OCCC’s technology infrastructure, community partnerships, and cultural programming, including major milestone events such as the 50th Anniversary Celebration and the Investiture of President Mautra Staley Jones. He also helped secure an $8 million in-kind grant from Cisco Systems to advance the college’s technology capacity. As the former President of Scissortail Community Development Corporation, Robert championed educational equity and economic development, establishing new school models, scholarships, and professional development programs for underserved communities. He has been a driving force in cultural and economic empowerment—authoring the business plan for Oklahoma’s first state-certified retail business incubator, spearheading efforts to establish a permanent Mexican consulate in Oklahoma, and helping design Oklahoma’s first Latino-created financial institution.