Becca Ruiz (she/her) | Researcher | bruiz@omni.org

Becca is a Researcher at OMNI and works primarily in OMNI’s Community Health and Behavioral Health content area of expertise. Since joining OMNI, Becca has provided technical assistance, planning, evaluation, and research services across a variety of large-scale, statewide behavioral health initiatives.

Becca has strong data collection, management, and analysis skills through extensive experience working with survey data at county, state, and national levels. As the Quantitative Lead across various community health assessments, she utilizes health equity frameworks that take into account how social determinants of health impact health outcomes. Her work involves exploring patterns and trends to help identify disparities that exist in communities due to systemic and structural factors. Becca actively collaborates with local/state agencies and vested partners to identify community needs and strengths, communicating findings in a culturally responsive and easily digestible manner.

Before joining OMNI, Becca honed her skills as a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank. Her research primarily focused on payment topics with an emphasis on traditionally marginalized populations. In her spare time, Becca enjoys practicing yoga, spending time outdoors, and being creative through photography, writing, drawing, and painting.

“I find it extremely meaningful to contribute to actionable, mixed-methods research. In our work, we prioritize engaging with community members and collaborating with key partners to identify and implement strategies that effectively address the unique needs of each community.”

EXPERTISE

Data analysis

EDUCATION

Northern Arizona University
B.S., Business Administration in Economics 

+ Selected Publications

  1. “Digital, Financial, and Health Insurance Exclusion Experienced by Low-Income Households.” Hayashi, Fumiko, and Rebecca Ruiz. 2021. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Payments System Research Briefing, July. https://www.kansascityfed.org/research/payments-system-research-briefings/digital-financial-and-health-insurance-exclusion-experienced-by-low-income-households/

  2. “Safe-Haven Performance in the Age of Bitcoin." Jesse Leigh Maniff & Sabrina Minhas & David Rodziewicz & Rebecca Ruiz, 2020. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Economic Bulletin, issue April 15, pages 1-4, April. https://ideas.repec.org/a/fip/fedkeb/87800.html

  3. “Credit and Debit Card Interchange Fees in Various Countries." Fumiko Hayashi & Rebecca Ruiz, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City: August 2019. https://www.kansascityfed.org/research/interchange-fees/

  4. “Credit and Debit Card Interchange Fees in Various Countries." Fumiko Hayashi & Rebecca Ruiz, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City: August 2020. https://www.kansascityfed.org/documents/6661/CreditDebitCardInterchangeFeesVariousCountries_August2020Update.pdf

  5. “Navajo Generating Station Baseline Conditions." Cooley, Elliot, and Rebecca Ruiz. 2019. Northern Arizona University, Center for American Indian Economic Development, May. https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/NGS-Baseline-Economic-Impacts-summary-4-11-2019.pdf

  6. “The Economic Contributions of Northern Arizona University to the State of Arizona in Academic Year 2017 – 2018." Combrink, Thomas, Ruiz, Rebecca, and Wade Rousse. 2018. Northern Arizona University, Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute, Research Report, November. https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/NAU-Economic-Contribution-Study-AY-2018.pdf

  7. “Extending the Season at the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim." Combrink, Thomas, Rousse, Wade, and Rebecca Ruiz. 2018. Northern Arizona University, Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute, Research Report. https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/Extending-Season-North-Rim-Grand-Canyon-NP.pdf

  8. “Flagstaff Visitor Study 2017-2018." Combrink, Thomas, Bradford, Melinda, and Rebecca Ruiz. 2018. Northern Arizona University, Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute, Research Report. https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/Flagstaff-Tourism-Study-2017-2018-Final.pdf

+ Selected Presentations

  1. Schweimler, T., & Ruiz, R. (2022). Young Adult Survey Results. Virginia Substance Abuse Block Grant Summit, Dec. 5, Henrico, Virginia.

+ Awards

  • Summa Cum Laude, Northern Arizona University (2019)
  • Excellence in Leadership Award - Collaboration & Being Relational with Students, Faculty, and Staff, Northern Arizona University (2019)

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A "bossy" teacher

What is your favorite thing to "nerd out" on?
Personality tests

What is the first concert you ever attended?
Hannah Montana and the Cheetah Girls