Her Story
About Lily
Lily Sanchez Ruiz is an accomplished higher education administrator, bilingual human resources professional, educator, and doctoral candidate currently serving as the Interim Director of Enrollment and Strategic Recruitment at Merit Technical Institute, formerly known as Merit Allied Health and Nursing School. In this role, she specializes in developing enrollment strategies, strengthening admissions initiatives, and expanding access to LPN programs designed for working adults pursuing healthcare careers. With extensive experience in higher education recruitment, retention, and strategic planning, Lily focuses on building sustainable pathways that connect students with academic opportunities and workforce development programs.
Lily’s professional journey is shaped by resilience, global perspective, and a commitment to lifelong learning. After immigrating from Chile, she pursued higher education in the United States, earning an associate degree, a degree in Political Science, and a Master of Public Administration in Human Resources Development. She has also completed graduate-level coursework in applied linguistics and andragogy and is currently completing her Doctor of Arts in Business Administration and Management at Thomas Edison State University. Her international experience across Latin America, Italy, and Amsterdam has enriched her approach to education, organizational leadership, and multicultural learning environments.
Beyond her administrative and academic leadership, Lily serves as the Permanent Advisor for Higher Education to the General Latin American Consuls of New Jersey and New York (GLACO), providing guidance on higher education initiatives, articulation agreements, and international degree equivalency matters. She is also an adjunct professor, teaching master’s and doctoral-level courses in business and leadership at institutions including Saint Peter’s University and Felician University, where she shares her expertise in adult education, human resources, and global business perspectives. As the founder of an education-focused LLC, Lily continues to support initiatives that promote educational access, professional development, and collaboration among women leaders throughout the Americas. Her dedication to inclusive education, community advancement, and transformational leadership has established her as a respected voice in higher education and workforce development.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lily
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from survival and imperative needs. I push for equity, not just equality, because even with degrees and experience, I have had to prove my merit three times more than others due to biases. As a woman of color with a multicultural perspective, I have had to use cultural switching to compete in environments where I must either pretend to be a servant or be direct like me to be accepted. Despite being part of the 3% acquiring a doctorate, I still face judgments based on cultural understanding rather than merits, which is frustrating but drives me to advocate for change.
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