Dr. José Luis de Ramón Ruiz Cultivates Critical Thinking through Literature

The Assistant Professor of Literature and Language at York College of Pennsylvania uses stories as a bridge between academics and real-world experiences.

José Luis de Ramón Ruiz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Literature and Language in the Department of Communication and Writing at York College of Pennsylvania, has always been captivated by literature and its ability to transport readers to another reality. As a child, he loved diving into different and more exciting worlds through literature, especially through fantasy and adventure novels.

As he grew older, Dr. Ruiz’s love of literature deepened as he began exploring more realistic narratives from around the world. This global perspective exposed him to diverse ways of thinking and living and fueled his curiosity about how literature can serve as a vehicle for cultural exchange and critical inquiry.

“Literature offers a reflective space to consider different points of view, experiences, and possibilities,” he says. “The capacity of literature to expand one’s horizons and make one think critically about their surroundings is one of the main factors that attracted me to this discipline.”

Passion turned into a career

Dr. Ruiz’s fascination with literature eventually led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Murcia in his native Spain. He went on to earn his master’s degree and doctorate from Vanderbilt University. During his time there, he was affiliated with the Vanderbilt Center for Teaching, where he studied various educational approaches and developed a keen interest in experiential and community-based learning. Those experiences began to shape his view of teaching, especially in terms of exploring local connections to the themes studied in class.

When Dr. Ruiz began looking for a faculty position outside of Vanderbilt, he knew he wanted to be at an institution where he could work with students in a supportive, collaborative environment that stressed hands-on learning. The small class sizes and close-knit campus community at York College have allowed him to interact frequently with students, providing personalized mentorship and helping them connect academic pursuits with personal and career goals. 

“Knowing my students and seeing them grow in their academic and professional journeys is one of the most rewarding aspects of my position,” he says. 

Bridging cultures through literature

In his teaching, Dr. Ruiz focuses on using literature as a tool for developing critical thinking. He believes that studying literature in connection with broader, real-world contexts will help his students as they enter their professional lives. 

This semester, Dr. Ruiz is collaborating with Dr. Mary Boldt, Associate Professor of Literature and Languages, on a project in which First Year Seminar students interview people with international backgrounds about the stories and fairy tales they grew up hearing around the world. Students will then analyze those stories to learn how they reflect different cultures. The project will culminate in a celebration of international cultures at York College. 

“I have only been at York College for one year, but I have a lot of teaching projects in mind that I would love to implement in the future,” he says. 

Dr. Ruiz hopes that those who consider attending York College will see it as a place where they can put their studies to work in meaningful ways that make an impact on their communities.