Kristina Ruiz-Mesa

Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, Ph.D. is a Professor of Communication Studies and director of the national award-winning oral communication program at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Ruiz-Mesa is a national leader in inclusive communication and has published dozens of articles, book chapters, and a national textbook, Inclusive Public Speaking, which focuses on building effective communication skills to connect with diverse audiences. Her teaching and research focus on organizational and instructional communication to improve institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

As an advocate for increased representation in higher education, Dr. Ruiz-Mesa serves as a Doctoral Coach for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, as a mentor in the Latino/a Communication Caucus, and as a founding member of the Caribbean Communication Caucus of the National Communication Association. As a sought-after DEI consultant and keynote speaker, she has advised organizational leaders across the United States and Canada on creating and incorporating inclusive communication practices. Her dedication to equity is further demonstrated through her involvement in various boards, including serving on the national board of advisors for the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), the Villanova University Alumni Association Board, and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board.