HILLSBORO, Kan. – Emir Ruiz Esparza has been hired as Dean of Student Life, Learning and Formation at Tabor College. He comes to Tabor from Berean Academy where he served as head of school.
In his position at Berean, Ruiz Esparza served as the spiritual and visionary leader of the campus. His role at Tabor will be similar. The dean will oversee resident educators, student activities and organizations including Student Activities Board and Student Senate. He will also give leadership to the offices of student success and career services.
“I look forward to working with the current student life staff to expand ways in which we can inculcate the mission, vision and core values throughout student life so it enhances the ‘Tabor Experience’ for our students,” Ruiz Esparza said. “I’m also very excited to preserve the essence of Tabor while stimulating progress in ways that excites students and encourages them to add value to campus life.”
President Glanzer is thrilled with the addition of Ruiz Esparza to the college leadership.
“Anytime we can bring a Tabor grad back to the family we want to do it,” Glanzer said. “Emir comes to us with a distinguished background in student life and it is clear he understands the needs of today’s students. We look forward to his ideas and implementing his strategies.”
Ruiz Esparza has a clear understanding of the role of student life and the experience he hopes students at Tabor have.
“I have a strong desire to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary campus environment where student life uses the collective resources of the college to help students feel supported,” he said. “Our role is to support students as learners, provide spaces to develop meaning and purpose, create experiences to feel connected to Tabor, nurture a climate where transformative relationships can happen and challenge growth in their God-given potential so they are prepared to meet the challenges they will face personally and professionally.”
Ruiz Esparza earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tabor College; a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Cairn University; a master’s of education in educational administration from Columbia International University and is currently working toward a doctorate in organizational leadership at Grand Canyon University.
He begins in the role on July 1.