Alissa Ruth

Alissa Ruth is an educational anthropologist and faculty member at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change, serving as Director of Strategic Initiatives. She focuses on improving educational access, student success, and innovative pedagogies. Her work includes research on undocumented immigrant youth, undergraduate research experiences (UREs), and critical pedagogy. She leads the Innovations in Social Science Instruction and Training Lab and directs education for the NSF Cultural Anthropology Methods Program (CAMP). Ruth has over 22 years of experience in higher education, including teaching, curriculum design, and mentoring students and community members. She co-edited The Handbook of Teaching Qualitative and Mixed Methods (2023) and contributes to journals like Social Science & Medicine. Her research projects address higher education equity, methods training, and social entrepreneurship pathways for underserved students.

• Affiliations: Director of Strategic Initiatives, ASU; Institute for Social Science Research; NSF CAMP.
• Education: Ph.D. Anthropology (ASU), M.S. Justice Studies (ASU), B.A. Anthropology (University of Florida).

Research Interests: Critical Issues in Higher Education, First-Generation Students, Ethnographic Methods, College Student Wellbeing, Immigration Policy, and Pedagogical Innovation.

Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles and edited volumes, emphasizing methods training, UREs, and marginalized student success.

Awards: None explicitly listed, but recognized through editorial roles and program leadership.

Teaching & Advising: Teaches courses on cultural anthropology, ethics, and global health. Advises students through honors programs and internships. Leads initiatives like the Global Ethnohydrology Study and Methods4all.