Sara Sánchez Ruiz

Dr. Sara Sánchez Ruiz is a Professor at Camilo José Cela University, where she has served as Teaching and Research Staff since 2015. She directs the Master's Degree in Special Educational Needs and teaches in both the Primary Education and Early Childhood Education degree programs.

Her educational background includes:

• Doctor of Education (2019) with Cum Laude distinction from Camilo José Cela University
• Graduated in Psychology from the University of Deusto (Bilbao) in 2008
• Diploma in Tourism from the University of Deusto (2008)
• Diploma in Teaching from Camilo José Cela University (2011)
• Master's in Secondary Education (2012)

Dr. Sánchez Ruiz's research primarily focuses on educational psychology, with particular emphasis on special educational needs, critical thinking development, creativity in education, and student well-being. Her work often examines gender and age differences in educational contexts, particularly among university students. She explores how factors like emotional intelligence, happiness, and open-mindedness relate to academic achievement and overall student development. Her publication record shows increasing productivity and impact, with recent work appearing in high-impact journals like Frontiers in Psychology and Journal of Intelligence.

Her scientific achievements include:

• Cum Laude distinction for her PhD
• Six-year research grant from CNEAI (National Commission for the Evaluation of Research Activity) awarded in 2025

Dr. Sánchez Ruiz has extensive experience supervising final degree projects and directed the Master's Degree in Special Educational Needs at Camilo José Cela University from 2019 to 2023. Her research is well-funded, with an active six-year research grant from CNEAI through 2025, supporting her ongoing investigations into emotional intelligence and academic achievement. She has established a productive research trajectory with numerous publications focusing on educational psychology and student development.

Her professional journey includes working as an early intervention psychologist in preschool (2008), educational advisor in various private and subsidized schools, and as a primary school teacher and classroom tutor (2008-2015) before joining Camilo José Cela University's faculty, giving her a strong foundation in practical educational settings that informs her academic work.