When Ruth Woods set out to find colleges for her children, there was no roadmap for families like hers. Guidance on historically Black colleges and universities was scarce, rarely shared through the channels available to most parents. What began as a mother’s determination to open doors for her own family became a calling that has since opened doors for countless others.
Over time, Dr. Woods transformed that search into a lifelong mission. She built bridges between students and opportunity, between families and institutions, between possibility and reality. She understood that access to education is not only a personal triumph but a legacy that reshapes generations.
Her career began in corporate leadership, with decades of management experience at both General Motors and Rolls-Royce. Those roles introduced her to a wide range of professionals: scientists, engineers, mathematicians, accountants, many of whom had roots in historically Black colleges and universities. She carried that insight into her life’s work, showing students and families that HBCUs were not only viable options, but vital pathways to success.
Dr. Woods has guided thousands of young people and their families through the college process. She has led workshops, partnered with school counselors, and founded initiatives that created lasting networks of support. Among her proudest efforts is the creation of her sorority’s HBCU Crusaders, a group of alumnae and parents dedicated to introducing HBCUs to students across Indianapolis and beyond. Their early outreach quickly reached hundreds of students, sparking a ripple effect that continues to this day.
For more than a decade she chaired the Indianapolis Black Alumni Council’s HBCU College Fair, growing it from a local gathering into a regional hub drawing schools and families from across the Midwest. Under her leadership, the fair connected students with millions of dollars in scholarships and became a trusted space where aspirations were matched with opportunity. Her vision also inspired the creation of Essentials: A Student Guide to HBCUs, which served as a trusted resource for students navigating their next steps.
Her service has been recognized with numerous honors, including corporate leadership awards, civic recognitions, and community service distinctions such as the Indianapolis Colts’ “NFL Community Quarterback Award.” She holds an Honorary Doctorate (Hon.D.) in recognition of her lifelong dedication to students and education.
Dr. Woods also served as a consultant for Pike High School’s Pre-Collegiate Initiative, where she helped build comprehensive college-prep programs for economically and educationally disadvantaged youth. The initiative supported thousands of students in developing resumes, essays, and financial aid applications, while also introducing them to the option of HBCUs. Hundreds have gone on to enroll, many on academic scholarships. Pike’s students named her counseling office “The Sanctuary,” a reflection of the safe and supportive space she created for them.
To this day, Dr. Woods describes her work not as a career, but as a ministry. “I developed a passion for service,” she says. “Pre-collegiate counseling has become my ministry, and I am proud that students see my office as a sanctuary.”
Her legacy is found not only in the countless students she has guided, but in the communities strengthened by their success.