Risk and Prevention

Alumni & Careers

Virginia Kerrigan Ruehrwein
Ed.M. 2000

Virginia Kerrigan Ruehrwein has a B.A. in Education and a certificate in Business Studies from Providence College.  She spent eight years in the business field working as a Project Manager in entrepreneurial companies before meeting former R&P faculty member Michael Nakkula while working at Harvard in 1998.  Dr. Nakkula inspired her to return to her passion of human services, and she went on to receive an Ed.M. in Risk and Prevention, Adolescence.  Virginia spent her internship at the Edwards Middle School, where she was hired to stay on and run Project GEAR UP.  For the next seven years, Virginia served at-risk children and teens and managed programs to prepare urban youth for college entrance. Upon meeting her husband, whose immediate family includes seven military service members, Virginia saw first hand the achievements and challenges that both service members and their families experience.  After watching her new family endure four tours to the Middle East, including 2 tours in the war in Iraq, her career focus shifted from college access to military family and youth support.  Virginia relocated to California and is the Director of Youth and Community Outreach for the San Diego Armed Services YMCA, where she has been running military family support programs as well as special events in the areas of family bonding, social networking, and youth development for the past two years.  Virginia credits R&P with preparing her to be flexible in a variety of work settings, from urban middle and high schools to non-profit agencies.  She also appreciated the program's focus on the importance of making a truly conscious effort to learn about, understand, and build quality relationships with the diverse populations she serves.