Background
She grew up in Southern California, where she attended Cal State Fullerton and graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.
She grew up in Southern California, where she attended Cal State Fullerton and graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication.
She is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruiz Strategies. Michele Ruiz is an award-winning broadcast journalist. Ruiz began her broadcasting career in 1989, co-anchoring Channel One News.
The program initially began as a pilot program broadcast in four high schools before its national debut in 1990.
From 1991 to 1998, Ruiz worked at KTLA in Los Angeles, California as a field reporter and morning anchor for the station"s KTLA Morning News. She also co-hosted a weekly public affairs program
In 1998, she joined National Broadcasting Company, LA, California-television as a general assignment reporter. She was soon promoted to an anchor position, where she co-anchored the station’s nightly 6:00 pm newscast with Chuck Henry.
Ruiz has received 19 Emmy nominations.
Ruiz left National Broadcasting Company, LA, California in 2005 to concentrate on other projects. In 2006, she founded SaberHacer.com, a bilingual, expert-based "how-to" educational broadband website for United States Hispanics. She launched this video-on-demand site when she determined there was a void of culturally relevant content for Hispanics.
In 2011, she started Ruiz Strategies, a strategic communications company.
Ruiz has stated her mission is simple - to do what she can to help people and change lives. Ruiz is known for her charity work and has volunteered her time with many organizations.
She has served on the Board of Directors for the non-profit agency Para Los Niños for 13 years. She also serves on the Cal State Fullerton College of Communications" Dean"s Advisory Board.
Ruiz was given two commendations for "Outstanding Citizenship for Civic Contributions" and "Dedication to the Community" by the City of Los Los Angeles
She was named "Latina of the Year" and "Comision Femenil De Los Angeles". She also received the Certificate of Congressional Commendation from the United States. House of Representatives, a commendation letter from the United States Senate, and a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate. Ruiz was honored in 2006 with the Cal State Fullerton with the Vision & Visionaries award.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that the university bestows on those who have gotten their degrees from this institution.
Ruiz, who lives in Los Angeles, is Panamanian and is fluent in Spanish.