Ruby Batz

Ruby Batz, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her work focuses on equity in early intervention and early childhood special education, particularly examining how race, ethnicity, disability, and language intersect with family-centered practices.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Leadership Program, University of Oregon, United States
• M.A. in Early Intervention, University of Oregon, United States
• Licenciatura in Educational and Clinical Psychology, Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala
• Profesorado in Special Education, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala

Research Focus: Dr. Batz's research agenda centers on three interconnected areas: investigating sociocultural mechanisms shaping family engagement, examining racialization in special education, and exploring teacher-educators' roles in reproducing or disrupting inequality. Her work particularly emphasizes the educational trajectories of young children at the intersections of disability, race, ethnicity, language, and socioeconomic status.

She employs multiple research methodologies including experimental and quasi-experimental designs, observational data analysis, interviews, and case studies. Her commitment as a community-engaged scholar focuses on advancing early schooling practices for families of emergent bilingual children with disabilities, while challenging deficit-based discourses surrounding multiply-minoritized children and families.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• AAHHE Faculty Fellow (2021-2022)
• Fulbright Fellow
• Society for Research in Child Development Early Career Grant (2021-2023)
• Spencer Foundation Racial Equity Grant (2022-2025)

Grants and Funding: Dr. Batz serves as Principal Investigator on projects supported by the Society for Research in Child Development and Spencer Foundation. As co-investigator, she contributes to a transdisciplinary team awarded a multi-site National Institute of Health (NIH) grant (2022-2027) to study structural inequity in Early Intervention.

Professional Background: Prior to joining UNR in 2020, Dr. Batz was a research associate at The Center on Teaching and Learning and an instructor in Special Education and Educational Methodology and Policy Leadership at the University of Oregon. She has extensive international experience, including consulting for the Ministry of Education of Guatemala and various international nonprofit organizations. Her practical experience includes three years teaching preschool and five years as a special education teacher for students with significant disabilities in Guatemala.