Kassandra Ruiz (left) with her mother Luisa Ruiz, and sister Kimberly Ruiz at Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Agua Santa Church in Baños de Agua Santa, Ecuador.

Before the age of five, Kassandra Ruiz had already lived in both Danbury, Connecticut, where she was born, and in Ecuador, where her mother had grown up. Ruiz began her pre-school education in Ecuador before returning to the United States in time to enter kindergarten. “Growing up in Danbury, my bus would pass by Western Connecticut State University  every morning and afternoon, and I would see students with bright, seemingly limitless futures ahead of them,” she said. “The campus felt like an integral part of the community I called home.”

When she graduated from Danbury High School in 2010, Ruiz said that when contemplating colleges, she had considered Marist and UConn and even took UConn English courses in high school. “However, I ultimately chose WestConn for its affordability and convenience,” she said. “I wanted to continue working while pursuing my degree and aimed to minimize financial burdens on my family. My decision was driven by practicality and long-term sustainability. I wanted a school where I could explore my interests and discover my true potential, and WestConn was the right fit. It offered the flexibility I needed to pursue paths that resonated with me, all while keeping home and family within reach.”

When Ruiz first started college, she was unsure of her career path, which led her to explore a variety of art courses. “Over time, I discovered a strong interest in figure and portrait drawing, as well as history and math,” Ruiz said. “I quickly realized that I wanted to integrate art into whatever field I pursued. This realization led me to choose business marketing, as it offered a creative and strategic intersection of my interests.”

Western Marketing Association members Rubina Cerone, Ethan Strang, Alan Nunez, Meghan O’Sullivan, Naria Velazquez, Kassandra Ruiz, Matt DiStasio, and Eljay Feuerman at the Westside campus.

Ruiz took Marketing courses with Dr. Ron Drozdenko, who introduced her to WestConn’s American Marketing Association student marketing club, the Western Marketing Association (WMA). She met Professor Donna Coelho through her involvement there. “Both had a profound impact on my education and experience at WestConn,” Ruiz said. “Their guidance and encouragement pushed my colleagues and me to excel. They are brilliant!”

The Marketing Club gave Ruiz a sense of community, where she built meaningful friendships, she said. “Together, we traveled, shared unforgettable experiences, and supported each other both academically and socially, balancing hard work with time spent outside of class and club meetings.

Through her participation in WMA, Ruiz also developed graphic design skills to help promote events and enhance the club’s branding. “Through the club, I connected with Tricia Farin, who owned a marketing agency at the time,” Ruiz explained. “I reached out to her to volunteer and assist with events her company hosted. We quickly built a strong rapport, and that opportunity led to my first role as a graphic designer.”

Ruiz rose to a leadership role in the WMA, where she learned how to bring people together, balance club responsibilities with academics, and develop business plans while organizing events. “One of the highlights of my experience was attending the AMA Marketing Conference in New Orleans, where we competed in various competitions,” she said. “The experience provided invaluable hands-on learning opportunities that I wouldn’t have gained otherwise.”

Through her connections in the Marketing Club, Ruiz also secured a role working in the Computer Lab, assisting students and maintaining the space. “As a commuter, this job allowed me to stay engaged with campus life, connect with fellow students, and immerse myself in the university’s energy,” she explained.

Kassandra Ruiz’s 2023 corporate headshot.

Since graduating from WestConn in 2015, Ruiz has focused on advancing her career and furthering her education. “A year after graduation, I moved to New York City to pursue graphic design opportunities,” she said. “I secured a position where I learned to navigate complex challenges and thrive under pressure. During this time, I earned a Graphic Design Certificate from Hunter College, CUNY, and pursued a yoga teacher certification at CorePower Yoga in Brooklyn, which contributed to both my personal and professional growth.”

Ruiz subsequently transitioned into freelance work, where a client introduced her to Marathon Strategies, an award-winning independent PR firm. “At Marathon, I lead the production of creative content informed by data and insights to shape online and offline conversations among key stakeholders and legislative decision-makers for Fortune 500 clients and trade associations,” she said. “In my role as Senior Designer, I leveraged my expertise to deliver a unique perspective for niche markets in the legislative space.”

During the pandemic, Ruiz recognized an opportunity for further personal growth, “I pursued a master’s in Communication Design from Pratt Institute, graduating in 2022 and had the honor of serving as the graduate commencement speaker,” she said. “It was an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For my thesis, I explored how design can help immigrant communities find a safe space to express emotion. This journey led me to reconnect with my own roots, drawing on my mother’s experiences after she immigrated from Ecuador. I designed a workshop to teach English to immigrant mothers and assisted with lessons at LaGuardia Community College, Center for Immigrant Education and Training (CIET) in Queens, gaining invaluable insights through group sessions and research.”

Kassandra Ruiz at her Pratt Institute Commencement, where she served as the Graduate Commencement Speaker. Ruiz is with her sister Kimberly Ruiz, nephew Gavin Fontanez, and mother Luisa Ruiz.

Ruiz continued, “When the chance arose to become the commencement speaker, I instantly knew what I wanted to convey, especially after immersing myself so deeply in my community’s stories and embarking on a form of soul-searching through my thesis. I wrote my speech in a single sitting — straight from the heart — and submitted it for consideration. After recording my delivery in round two, I received the email confirming I had been chosen.”

The commencement was an incredible experience, with her entire family watching both in person and online, Ruiz said. “It was a profoundly emotional moment; I even had to pause mid-speech to collect myself. I will carry the memory of that day with me always, a testament to the power of embracing one’s heritage and passions in pursuit of meaningful work. I am a proud first-generation college graduate and the first in my family to earn a master’s degree. My mother, originally from Ecuador, migrated to the U.S. in pursuit of better opportunities, where she met my father, a Puerto-Rican native, who had also moved here for a better life.”

Now a Creative Director at Marathon, Ruiz said she continues to refine her skills, including learning to code, with plans to pursue an M.B.A. in the future.

“I remain passionate about supporting underprivileged communities through various projects. As I continue to build my career, I am committed to following my intuition, staying true to my identity, and fostering both personal and professional growth.”

The journey began at WestConn. “I met incredible people and learned from brilliant professors there,” Ruiz said. “I was empowered to take every opportunity that came my way, shaping my own journey and forging a strong path forward.”

Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.