Ruth Cislowski has an accomplished career developing and managing nonprofit social service programs. She has devoted more than 25 years providing services to, and advocating for, vulnerable populations.
Serving in the first class of Peace Corps Volunteers in Bulgaria after the fall of Communism, she taught English and developed curricula and instructional materials for students in Kyustendil, Bulgaria.
Professor Cislowski has experience with local community social service agencies such as Jewish Family Service, where she assisted seniors, people with AIDS and developmentally disabled adults. She served on the staff of Community Partners, where she supported several initiatives including violence prevention, youth development, and access to technology.
Professor Cislowski was instrumental in launching the largest interconnected educational access channel in the nation, creating the school literacy volunteer program for the Los Angeles Times, establishing a Westside consortium of social service agencies partnering to increase family incomes and youth academic achievement, and developing the California State University, Northridge Department of Social Work.
Currently, she is an associate teaching professor, practicum education at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. She teaches the foundations of clinical skills and theory and applications of leadership and management. Professor Cislowski spent over 10 years as the Southern California regional eirector for practicum education, where she oversaw the placement and supervision of more than 350 students attending the Virtual Academic Center each year. She is currently the assistant director of practicum education, coordinating the implementation of the part-time flexible option for students. Professor Cislowski was elected by her peers to the school’s Faculty Council two times, and most recently was elected to serve as vice chair and then became chair of Faculty Council. She presents nationally on innovative social work education practices.
She formerly served as member of the City of West Hollywood Disabilities Advisory Board, where she advocated for people with disabilities and advised the City Council on issues affecting this population, including housing, transportation, ADA compliance and other access issues.
Professor Cislowski served for 18 years as a human services commissioner for the City of West Hollywood, including two terms as chair of the commission that oversees more than $3 million in funding annually to local social service agencies. The commission collaborates with the City Council and other key stakeholders to identify the city’s social service priorities, review grant proposals and recommend allocation of funds.
She has been an active volunteer in the community, including participation with The Jewish Federation’s Koreh L.A. Literacy Task Force Advisory Board, Jewish Community Relations Committee Urban Affairs Commission and Access Community Action Projects Committee. She volunteered with SEIU Local 11 to assist members to enroll in unemployment benefits who were laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Cislowski has been a member of the California Democratic State Central Committee and is a longtime member of the West Hollywood/Beverly Hills Democratic Club and serves on their West Hollywood Advisory Board. She has experience as both a staff member and volunteer for numerous political campaigns. She is currently the co-chair of the Field Education Committee for Voting is Social Work, and serves on the leadership of The National Social Work Voter Mobilization Campaign, which is a national movement to integrate voter registration and engagement into social work education and professional practice. She was awarded the West Hollywood Women in Leadership Award in 2018. In 2022, she was recognized for her profound impact on the people and community with the 28th Congressional District Woman of the Year from Congressman Adam Schiff.
Professor Cislowski received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and her Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She was recognized in 2022 for her years of professional and community service with an Honorary Doctorate from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
She has lived in West Hollywood for more than two decades with her husband Joe Cislowski. They are proud parents of their 22-year-old son Bailey and 17-year-old daughter Amanda.