Ruth Watkins

Ruth Watkins is Strada’s president of postsecondary education, where she leads Strada Education Foundation’s collaboration with postsecondary education institutions and nonprofit organizations to help advance an ecosystem that provides more pathways to prosperity for more people. Before joining Strada in 2021, she built a strong reputation for supporting student success as the 16th president of the University of Utah. In that role, she increased degree completion rates and research funding, established student funding models, and built partnerships with community stakeholders. Uniting the campus as “One U,” Watkins and her team drove innovation in research, education, and operational efficiency -- addressing major societal challenges, including mental health and interpersonal violence.