Biography and expertise
Christian Ruiz-Ortiz is an instructor in the Department of Psychology at Texas State University. He earned his Ph.D. in General Psychology with a concentration in Bilingualism, Language, and Cognition from The University of Texas at El Paso, in El Paso, TX. His doctoral research examined how bilingual experience and language use context influence cognitive control, with a focus on attention and executive functioning. Dr. Ruiz-Ortiz also holds a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of Texas at El Paso.
Education
Doctorate Degree
PhD in General Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso, 2025
Master's Degree
MA in Experimental Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso, 2023
Bachelor's Degree
BS in Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso, 2015
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Featured grants
- Villanueva-Rosales, Natalia (Principal), Bangert, Ashley (Co-Principal), Mondragon, Oscar (Co-Principal), Nunez-Mchiri, Guillermina (Co-Principal), Cheu, Ruey K (Co-Principal), Garnica Chavira, Luis (Other), Ruiz-Ortiz, Christian (Supporting), Cabrera-Menendez, Yair (Supporting). Smart Social Connector: An Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Approach to Foster Social Connectedness in Underserved Senior Populations, National Science Foundation, Federal, $1500000. (Funded: August 2019 - May 2025). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Cabrera-Menendez, Y., Villanueva-Rosales, N., Bangert, A., & Ruiz-Ortiz, C. (2025). Social Bridges to Technology: Social Influences on Older Adults’ Use of Technology (pp. 1–6). United States: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISC266238.2025.11293317
- Bangert, A., Ruiz-Ortiz, C., Becerra, D., Núñez-Mchiri, G., Calvo, D., Mondragon, O., … Villanueva-Rosales, N. (2022). The Use of Technology by Older Adults in El Paso, Texas During COVID-19: Purposes, Challenges, and Opportunities (pp. 1–7). United States: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISC255366.2022.9922423
- Bangert, A., Núñez-Mchiri, G., Mondragon, O., Calvo, D., Ruiz-Ortiz, C., Escobedo, E., … Villanueva-Rosales, N. (2022). Using Technology to Teach Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic (pp. 1–7). United States: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISC255366.2022.9922123
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Dodson Research Grant (Les and Harriet Dodson Endowment), The University of Texas at El Paso Graduate School. March 2024 - May 2025
Featured service activities
- Undergraduate Advisor
GRACE (Giving Respect and Care to Elders)
- Participant
Department of Psychology Undergraduate Recruitment Event
- Co-Chair
Bilingualism, Language, and Cognition Brown Bag Meetings / Department of Psychology / The University of Texas at El Paso