Heather Ruple, former Lasallian Volunteer and currently Dean of Academics at San Miguel School in Providence, Rhode Island, has been named the new Director, Lasallian Student Programs for the District of San Francisco. She will assume her responsibilities for a wide range of Lasallian youth and vocational programs from Marilyn Paquette in July, when Ms. Paquette transitions to her new position as Dean of Women at Justin-Siena High School in Napa, California.

Heather will oversee the student programs of the District which include Lasallian Student Leaders, Lasallian Youth, immersion programs such as VENAVER, Lasallian Collegians, Young Lasallians, Lasallian volunteers, service-learning support, and campus ministry. Additionally, she will assist the New Orleans-Santa Fe District and the United States/Toronto Region in these programs when needed. She will also collaborate with Brother George Van Grieken, the District and Regional Vocation Director, where the two offices have similar responsibilities.

Heather graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2001, and served as a Lasallian Volunteer at San Miguel School in Providence, Rhode Island, for two years. She continued at the school as a teacher, graduate support director, and Academic Dean. More recently, Heather participated in a CIL session in Rome. She has served as the chair of the former LI-NE District Mission Council and remains a founding member of the Mission Executive Council for the District of Eastern North America.

Those who know Heather speak of her understanding of the Lasallian vocation, both from a lay as well as a Brothers’ standpoint. She sees herself as a Lasallian educator at heart.
For her years of service, Heather was named the first recipient of the Brother Chris Bassen Service Award by Lasallian Volunteers in 2010.