Associate Professor Ruth Green identifies strongly with her teachings and responsibilities as a Haudenosaunee woman and remains committed to the advancement of Indigenous knowledges in academia.

A respected scholar and community activist, Ruth is from the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation and a member of the Turtle Clan. Her journey at York started in 2014 when she joined the University as an associate professor. She works in York’s School of Social Work in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS).

Since joining the University, Ruth has been a deeply engaged and active member of the York community through her leadership, research, teaching and advocacy for equity, Indigenous education and the social issues that impact Indigenous communities.

At York, she has served as special advisor to the president on Indigenous initiatives, and the co-chair of the Indigenous Council. While on the Indigenous Council, Ruth was instrumental in the development of York’s Indigenous Framework and the creation of the Land Acknowledgement. She was also the proponent for the development of the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages.

Ruth’s application of Indigenous pedagogy to her teaching earned her a 2018 President’s University-Wide Teaching Award. She was also awarded a York Research Award in 2022.

Ruth serves as a LA&PS representative on Senate, member of Faculty Council’s executive for LA&PS, special advisor to the dean on Indigenous issues at LA&PS, chair of the Indigenous Research Ethics Board implementation committee, and “auntie” to the Indigenous Students’ Association of York.

Green has volunteered to serve as a board member for several organizations across Toronto and Ontario. This includes Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, Indigenous Friends Association, and the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee for the City of Toronto. She was awarded the Mino Bimaadiziwin Award by the City of Toronto in 2021 for her work in Indigenous communities in the city.

Ruth holds a master’s in social work from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a PhD from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in adult education and community development. She began teaching in 2008.

Ruth was appointed to the York University Board of Governors effective July 1, 2023.