James Ruby

Professor
Phone: (657) 278-8385
Office: EC-454
Email:   jruby@fullerton.edu

 

 

 

I have over 20 years of human service experience in various settings ranging from faith based organizations to clinical mental health practice.  I am a nationally certified counselor and I also hold the pupil personnel services (PPSC) credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the marriage and family therapist intern registration from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

I began my clinical work in therapeutic day schools working with severely emotionally disturbed students and students with Asperger’s syndrome.  From there I went on to work in community mental health as a program manager and clinician where I honed my skills as a clinical supervisor, strategic planner, grant writer, and outcome evaluator.  I continued to work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families in clinical counseling practice both while in the community mental health setting as well as in private practice as an adjunct to my university teaching career.

I received my doctoral training from Loyola University in Chicago, IL in 2004 with an emphasis in Research Methodology and Human Development with a minor in Counseling.  My master’s level training was completed in 1998 in Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL and in 1990 in Divinity from Southern Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

I have been teaching undergraduate and graduate students for over 8 years in both private and public university settings.  My areas of specialization are human services and counseling.  Courses that I have taught include Counseling Theories & Techniques, Group Counseling, Assessment in Counseling, Diagnosis in Counseling, Research Methods, Addictions Counseling, Child and Adolescent Counseling, School Counseling and Career/Vocational Counseling.  I have taught on site as well as online courses.

My research interests include human services program effectiveness, school counselor education, methods of instruction in practitioner research, and the use of improvisational acting exercises with groups and families in counseling.  I have publications in peer reviewed journals, published book chapters, newspaper and magazine articles, one video script and one musical score for a short film.

One of my passions is to effectively equip students to meet their educational and career goals.  I enjoy working with students in a collaborative approach that facilitates learning for all involved.  I was employed with a full-time job and had a family during all of my graduate study and I am well aware of the challenges that one faces as he/she attempts to meet such goals, but I believe I am an effective instructor who can tie theory to practice in a meaningful and relevant manner.