Featured Donor: Michael Ruiz

Michael Ruiz is a partner at EY-Parthenon, the strategy and transactions arm of EY (previously known as Ernst & Young), one of the largest professional services firms in the world alongside Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC. Michael earned this title just 13 years after graduating from Fresno State, a remarkable achievement that he traces back to his education — and to his family's roots.

Michael grew up in Visalia, where his family worked hard but money was always tight. That experience didn't make him bitter — it made him hungry. He became fascinated by how business and financial systems work, and early on, he dedicated himself to building a better future for his family and helping as many others as he could do the same.

From an early age, he worked multiple jobs to support his family and put himself through Fresno State, graduating in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. While earning his degree, he was featured in an “I Am Fresno State” commercial, where he spoke about how the Smittcamp Family Honors College was preparing him for success in both his career and his life. (He hasn’t appeared in any commercials since, but he’s open to it!) He went on to earn a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business before joining EY and earning multiple promotions at a steady clip.   

In his current role, he specializes in transactions, helping executives navigate carveout sales, spinoffs and divestitures so that buyers, boards and investors can trust both the numbers and the story behind them. Michael has played a key role in numerous high-profile deals across the technology, consumer, and industrial sectors, and his work has been crucial to his firm’s growth in Seattle.  

Outside of his client work, Michael is deeply committed to giving back to the Seattle community through mentorship and financial literacy education. He regularly works with students through programs such as the University of Washington’s Young Executives of Change, Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle, and the EY College MAP program, where he helps young people build practical financial skills and navigate the path to college and careers. He is especially passionate about supporting first-generation college students, and he frequently shares the details of his own journey so young students can see what’s possible. 

Closer to his roots, Michael is also a longstanding donor to the Smittcamp Family Honors College, supporting the program he credits with launching his career — and ensuring future Smittcamp Scholars from the Central Valley have the same opportunity to dream bigger than the circumstances they were born into.

Whether mentoring early career professionals at EY or guiding young students, he is known throughout his community for investing time and energy in the success of others so that they, too, can achieve their dreams.  

"I've always been wired to chase the next big thing, and the Smittcamp Family Honors College was the first big thing for me. It got me out of Visalia, put me alongside incredibly talented, motivated students, and showed me there were no limits to what we could achieve. SFHC was the launchpad for everything that came after, and I give back today because I want the next generation of Smittcamp Scholars to find their next big thing — and to know that wherever they come from, what they can achieve really is limitless."'