Carolina S. Ruiz
LAWYER, EDUCATOR, HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE
Recipient of the 2022 Decolonization, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEDI) York University Presidential Staff Award.
Email:
Address:
Toronto, Ontario CANADA
Current Institutional Affiliation
Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion, York University
I have over fifteen years of university teaching experience at the undergraduate, law school, and graduate levels. I taught for nine years at the University of Toronto before working with my current organization. Before immigrating to Canada, I practiced human rights litigation as a lawyer for environmental, indigenous rights, and women's rights non-profits in the Philippines.
I completed the The Second City Conservatory Program in July of 2023. I am currently perform with my Bad Dog Theatre Ensemble, Carrots Again! and occasionally perform as an Improv duo with my daughter, as The Broadfellas. You can see where I'm performing next on IG (@karolzki) or right here. I occasionally blog about my newfound Improv Philosophy and live by the mantra: Life is Improv and Improv is life.
MY LATEST PROJECTS
About me
EXPERIENCE
Senior DEDI Education and
Communications Adviser
CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUITY &
INCLUSION (REI)
August 2021-present
I develop, conduct, and coordinate training sessions with the Education team, develop online learning projects, and lead graphic design and development for REI's events.
ALPHA EDUCATION
Research and Resource Development Associate
2018-August 2021
I lead the University Internship Program which consisted of curriculum development and design, instruction, and lead mentorship for research. I also conceptualized and coordinated resource development through Webinars, Volunteer, and Internship projects and serve as a resource person for the education team.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISAUGA
Sessional Lecturer/Sessional Instructor
2010-2018 and 2020
As a sessional instructor at the Women and Gender Studies Program, I taught law and policy-focused courses such as Women, Migration, and Diaspora (WGS225), Gender and Justice (WGS365), and Intro. to Women Law and Public Policy (WGS215). I also taught Sociology of Law (SOC216).
2009-2010
Research Coordinator
DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN IN A NEW ERA (DAWN)
I served as the final-year Research Coordinator for 3 countries (India, Nigeria, Mexico) under the MacArthur funded Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Project.
EDUCATION
2007-2008
Master of Laws (LLM)
FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
I was the 2007 International Fellow on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
1991-1995
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
COLLEGE OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
In 2003, I became a Senior Lecturer of law and taught Civil Law 1 (Persons and Family Relations) and a course on Gender and Law
1985-1990
Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism)
COLLEGE OF MASS COMMUNICATION, UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
SKILLS
Microsoft Office 365 - Advanced
Learning Management Systems (LMS) for Online Learning - Advanced
H5P - Proficient
Adobe - Proficient
iMovie/Final Cut Pro - Advanced
Power Point and Keynote - Advanced
Other Skills
Improvisation, Sketch Comedy, and Stand-up
EXPERTISE
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POLICY RESEARCH / ANALYSIS / ADVOCACY
I have experience in the following areas:
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Legislative Advocacy
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Campaigns Strategy & Communications
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Policy Drafting
TEACHING & STORY TELLING
Using story-telling as a resource for teaching and learning, especially about aboriginal law and critical perspectives of colonial law, has allowed me to draw from pedagogical strategies that I learned from my grassroots and community education background. Using case studies that go a step further than the legal text (or court decision) by means of contextual historical information, as well as interviews and other journalistic accounts, can enhance students’ understanding of the significance of landmark cases. More importantly, it can engender a more empathetic understanding of difference, which is essential for social justice and anti-oppression education.
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CRITICAL LEGAL EDUCATION
The law can be either a pillar that keeps institutional injustice entrenched in society or a form of knowledge with the potential to empower its subjects. The more important pedagogical issue, when it comes to critical legal theory and critical race courses, in particular, is teaching difficult historical content, such as topics that touch on genocide, war, slavery, and all manner of anthropogenic disasters.
PEDAGOGY
Visually compelling content in the form of documentaries and other media help many learners to grapple with abstract theoretical texts. I often incorporate excerpts from film and video, especially compelling first-person accounts, into my presentations. Apart from video elements, short but well-written podcasts have also proven useful as discussion pieces, especially for online learning.
LAUGHTER
I signed up for my first Improv class at The Second City (Online) because the stand-up comedy class I signed up for got dissolved for low enrolment. Since then, I have been hooked on Improv and it has given me new insight into the importance of embracing failure and the joy of learning from the mistakes we make every day. Mind you, Improv has also helped to keep me sharp, nimble and witty.
Recently, I have been reflecting on the importance of laughter in social change-making. In May 2024 I will be co-facilitating an improv session for DEDI advocates.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
Teaching the fraught historical origins of racism, its colonial context as well as its ongoing impact on maintaining systems of social hierarchy is crucial for any society that seeks justice and equality and prides itself on promoting democratic values.
While I am adept in using teaching technology (in the classroom and in virtual learning environments), in my experience (and based on some failed experiments), keeping things simple is what works best.
It is important to ensure that learning outcomes and the student's experiences and backgrounds, as well as the subject matter, are what influences the format of the course delivery, and eventually determines the uses of technology for instruction and not the other way around.
I blog about the many insights that I have gained about life and striving to be a better human while doing Improv. I have done stand-up and judging by the laughs I got, I think I did okay. It dawned on me that court appearances and classroom lectures are really good practice for any sort of public performance.
I completed the Conservatory Program at The Second City in July of 2023 and currently perform with my Bad Dog Theatre Class Ensemble, Carrots Again! and as an improv duo with my daughter (The Broadfellas). I post where I'll be performing next right here.