For nearly four decades, Roy H. Ruby was a staff member of the Division of Student Affairs at Mississippi State University, from which he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science in 1961 and 1966, respectively.
In 1964, Ruby began work as program director for what now is the Dean W. Colvard Union. In 2002, he stepped down after 16 years as vice president for student affairs to conclude his MSU career as dean of the College of Education, for which he also had been serving for two years as interim dean. He retired from his alma mater in June 2004.
In his rise from the entry-level position to Student Affairs’ top leadership office, Ruby also was coordinator of student activities, assistant dean of men, acting dean of men, assistant dean of student development, associate dean of student development, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, and dean of student administrative services. Along the way, he departed the division for a time to direct MSU’s Jackson branch campus 1974-78. Ruby is a retired officer in the United States Army Reserves and a former president of the board of trustees of the Starkville Public Schools. He also has been recognized as 2002 alumnus of the year by MSU's Army ROTC program.