In the last 35 years, WSU has had six football coaches and four university presidents. It’s only had one Leila Ruiz.

Ruiz began her job as a CUB custodian on Nov. 1, 1978, and she has worked in the CUB custodial department ever since. Today, Ruiz is a custodial supervisor and does everything in her power to keep the CUB clean. She’s easy to spot, unloading trash cans and cleaning bathrooms wearing her signature bandana.  

Working at the CUB for three and a half decades, Ruiz has witnessed the students go through various emotional highs and lows.

“When the Challenger exploded, you could see it, the whole building sank,” Ruiz said. “On the other hand, when we went to the Rose Bowl for the first time the whole place was uplifted.”

Being able to observe the collective pulse of the university is why Ruiz said she feels working at the CUB is exciting.

“That’s one of the reasons I like staying at the CUB, the CUB is the heart beat of WSU,” Ruiz said.

A change Ruiz noticed during her tenure is the increased diversity as many multicultural centers have taken residence in the CUB.

“We have the world right here, in walking distance,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz has impressed her co-workers with the sheer amount of pride she puts into her work.

“She has an incredibly strong work ethic and a lot of ownership in the building,” CUB Associate Director John Cory said. “It’s more than just a job for her, it’s a personal investment.”

Prior to the renovation in 2006, the CUB featured a hotel, which was Ruiz’s main custodial responsibility when she first started working.

CUB Assistant Director Neil Manning said the hotel became Ruiz’s baby, and after building relationships with alumni year after year she became an integral part of the hotel experience.

Losing the hotel after the renovation was difficult for Ruiz, but for the most part the CUB has been a stronghold of stability in her life.

“My two boys are grown up and have their own families and a lot of ladies get empty nest syndrome,” Ruiz said. “I haven’t, because I still have 4,000 kids in my house.”

For Ruiz, being a CUB custodian is more than her job, and the CUB is more than where she works.

“I don’t even see myself as a custodian,” Ruiz said. “I just have to take care of my house so people can come and visit.”