From Mississippi roots to a career spanning multiple states and leadership roles, Ruby Pulliam has built a professional journey defined by adaptability, service, and a steadfast commitment to equity.

Ruby earned her BA in English/Journalism from Tougaloo College before pursuing a MA in Journalism/Public Relations at The Ohio State University and later completing a Master’s Certificate in Human Resources from Cornell University’s ILR School. Her early career took her to Washington, D.C., where she served as a Congressional Legislative Assistant. Life and work would soon take her to Connecticut, where she worked as a Community Liaison in a Mayor’s Office while her husband began pastoring a church.

From there, Ruby relocated to Buffalo, NY, serving five years as Assistant Director of Equity and Campus Diversity at Buffalo State College. She then joined the City of Niagara Falls, first as its EEO Officer—a newly created role established in response to an Attorney General’s decree—and later as Director of Human Resources/EEO Officer, a position she held for a decade. For the past 4.5 years, she has served as the Commissioner of Human Resources for Tompkins County, where she continues to lead with both vision and integrity.

In addition to her professional duties, Ruby is an active member of the Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee, Team JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), and professional organizations such as PSHRA and SHRM. She takes particular pride in mentoring emerging leaders, helping them step into leadership roles both within and beyond their departments, and partnering with teams to achieve their goals while maintaining compliance with organizational policies.

When asked about the most valuable lessons learned through her career, Ruby emphasizes the importance of separating personal feelings from business decisions and addressing issues promptly before they escalate. Her advice to those new to civil service is to “listen first, ask questions before making decisions, and be deliberate, consistent, and fair—while always learning from others.”

If she could change one thing about the civil service system, it would be to place greater emphasis on evaluations based on training and experience.

Outside of work, Ruby enjoys reading, traveling, and tackling jigsaw puzzles, pursuits that balance her fast-paced professional life with moments of reflection and creativity.

Ruby’s career is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and service—and her contributions continue to make a meaningful impact on the communities she serves!