Faculty and Staff Profile

A. Stefanie Ruiz

Educational Background

2022 University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. Social Welfare

2017 Hebrew University M.A. Nonprofit Management

2015 ESB Business School B.Sc. Intl. Business

Courses Taught

NPL3000 Foundations in Nonprofit Leadership (Asynchronous)
PRTM8110 Research Methods (Hybrid & In-Person Graduate)
PRTM8250 Populations in PRTM (Online Graduate)
PRTM3480 Experiencing Political Activism and Remembrance Culture through Soccer in Germany (Study Abroad Course)
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Ethics and the Pursuit of Social Impact
Corporate Social Responsibility

Profile

A. Stefanie Ruiz is an Assistant Professor in Clemson University’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Her research examines minority experiences in majority spaces, with a focus on how these environments shape social identity, perceived belonging, and pathways to integration. She studies nonprofit organizations and volunteerism - particularly immigrant volunteering - to understand how civic participation supports social inclusion in host-country societies. Her work is interdisciplinary, drawing from leisure studies, nonprofit management, and migration research. She is interested in how meaning-making and well-being in the 21st century influence identity formation and belonging, and she is committed to advancing cross-cultural dialogue in research. Before earning her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, Stefanie completed an MA in Nonprofit Management at the Rothberg International School in Jerusalem and a BSc in International Business at ESB Business School in Germany. She has lived in five countries and speaks Spanish and German fluently.

Research Interests

Civic Participation of Immigrant Populations,
Minority Experiences in Majority Spaces,
Social Inclusion and Belonging,
Minority Leisure Patterns,
Meaning and Well-being,
(In)Formal Volunteering,
Nonprofit Leadership

Research Publications

For an up-to-date list, please see Curriculum Vitae

Honors and Awards

For a comprehensive list, please see Curriculum Vitae

Links