Media Contact: Robby Piazzaroli, rpiazzaroli@fairfield.edu, 203-254-4000 x2597

Fairfield University is delighted to announce the appointment of Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, PhD, as the graduate programs director of the Communication Department, effective September 1, 2023. Dr. Ruiz-Mesa brings with her a wealth of academic experience and a passion for promoting social justice and ethical communication within higher education. 

In her new role, Dr. Ruiz-Mesa will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of the Communication graduate program at Fairfield.

"I am very excited to join the Fairfield community and to shape the future of the Communication graduate program," said Dr. Ruiz-Mesa. "My work as graduate director, as well as my research and teaching at Fairfield, will be guided by the Jesuit values of social justice and ethical communication to create a more just and inclusive world."

Dr. Ruiz-Mesa's educational journey includes a BA in Communication and an MA in Strategic Communication from Villanova University. During her undergraduate program at Villanova, she pursued a concentration in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish language and literature. Later, she earned her PhD in Communication with a specialization in Organizational Communication from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Her doctoral work focused on organizational identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion in U.S. higher education, with her dissertation research delving into the applied communicative practices of chief diversity officers in colleges and universities.

Prior to joining Fairfield University, Dr. Ruiz-Mesa held teaching positions at Villanova University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and California State University, Los Angeles. At Cal State LA, she directed one of the largest public speaking programs in the United States and earned a prestigious National Communication Association award in 2022. Dr. Ruiz-Mesa's dedication to education is further evident through her mentorship of hundreds of undergraduate students as the director of Villanova University's St. Thomas of Villanova Scholars (S.T.O.V.S.) bridge program. Additionally, she has contributed significantly to graduate education, serving on 19 MA thesis committees and two doctoral dissertation committees. In recognition of her outstanding mentorship, she was honored as one of Cal State LA's Graduate Faculty Mentors of the Year in 2020.

Dr. Ruiz-Mesa's commitment to the Jesuit ideal of social justice is deeply ingrained in her academic pursuits. She currently focuses on studying organizational and instructional communication practices to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in U.S. higher education institutions. Her past research on the academic impact of experiencing racial microaggressions in higher education has played a vital role in creating impactful programming and enhancing support services for underrepresented students across the nation.

Fairfield University is thrilled to welcome Dr. Kristina Ruiz-Mesa to the Communication Department and eagerly anticipates the positive impact of her leadership and dedication to promoting social justice and ethical communication in the academic sphere.

For more information about Fairfield University and the Communication Department, please visit Fairfield.edu/gradcomm. 

Posted On: September 1, 2023

Volume: 55 Number: 16

Fairfield University is the modern Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools.  In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.