Rita Ruhter

Rita Ruhter has been teaching at CSI for 16 years, working across Health Sciences, Over 60, General Education, and Allied Health throughout her time at the college. Growing up in the Magic Valley, Rita developed an interest in health and wellness that eventually took her across the country and beyond. She studied Health Sciences at San Diego State University, worked in healthcare in Washington, D.C., and later joined the Peace Corps, where she worked on nutrition and health projects in Guatemala. She went on to earn her Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois Chicago and taught at universities in California before eventually returning home to Idaho.

Today, Rita brings those experiences into the classroom while helping students see how wellness connects to every dimension and stage of life. Her classes are interactive and focused on real-world experiences, giving students opportunities to learn from one another, collaborate with experts, and make connections across campus and within the community. Rita says it is an honor to work with CSI students and help them gain knowledge, build confidence, think critically, and become lifelong learners. She hopes students leave her classes with resources they can continue using throughout their own journeys.

Outside of CSI, Rita loves spending time with her family, traveling, waterskiing, snow skiing, hiking, reading, and going to concerts. Students might also be surprised to learn she was on the waterski team at San Diego State University and has even gone skydiving with her daughter!

Her advice to students: go in the direction of your dreams and find joy along the way.