A Passion for Teaching: “Professor weaves the nuts and bolts of history into themes of life which (if you let it) can spark a “higher level” of learning–one which allows thinking outside of the box.”

He sat under the wash of a white studio lamp, attired in black—a jacket and turtleneck. They were serious clothes, matched by a serious face. As he was directed to face the camera, his countenance darkened, and he fixed upon it an intense gaze. If one were to look into those two pools of seemingly immeasurable depth, one would be filled with introspection. Such was my first impression of Professor Teofilo Ruiz, an impression that belied his insouciant character and whimsical tone, but fittingly expressed the earnestness with which he regarded his responsibilities as an educator.

Ruiz immigrated to the United States in 1961 as a political exile from his native Cuba; he was eighteen. Starting from scratch, he worked his way through college and received his Bachelors in History from the City College of New York, followed thereafter by a Masters from New York University and a PhD from Princeton University. From there, he eventually made his way to UCLA, where he became a Professor of History and Chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Ruiz is also a published author; his latest work is…Click Here to Continue Reading.