Ruth A. DeAnda, EdD, MSSW, LBSW
Instructor Of Social Work
BSW Program Director
Office: Old Main 205C
Email: rdeanda@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2611
Professional Profile
Dr. Ruth DeAnda joined the College of Education and Social Sciences at West Texas A&M University in 2020. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from West Texas A&M University in 2005, followed by a Master of Science in Social Work in 2011. In 2025, she earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from West Texas A&M University.
Dr. DeAnda currently serves as Program Director for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, where she provides leadership in undergraduate social work education, program development, student success, and community engagement.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. DeAnda teaches undergraduate courses across the social work curriculum and has served in multiple leadership roles within the BSW program, including two years as BSW Field Director before assuming the role of Program Director. Her teaching and service are informed by extensive professional experience in social work and higher education.
Her professional social work experience includes work in adoption and foster care with a licensed nonprofit child-placing agency, medical social work at Northwest Texas Healthcare System, and school social work with Amarillo Independent School District. Prior to joining the faculty at West Texas A&M University, Dr. DeAnda also served as an academic advisor at Amarillo College, where she supported students in navigating academic pathways and achieving their educational goals.
Across her teaching, leadership, and professional practice, Dr. DeAnda is committed to preparing future social workers for ethical and effective practice while supporting student development, professional identity formation, and academic success.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. DeAnda's research interests center on first-generation college students, mental health conceptualization and help-seeking, student support and mentorship, and social work education. Her doctoral dissertation, From Awareness to Understanding: Mental Health Knowledge Among First-Generation College Students, explored faculty and practitioner perceptions of how first-generation college students conceptualize and engage with mental health, with particular attention to the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and community influences that shape students' experiences. Her scholarly interests also include educational access and the transition from high school to higher education among first-generation students and families.