Asmundson, Ruth's Bio
Asmundson, Ruth - Mayor
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. Agricultural Chemistry, 1972, University of California, Davis, CA, (Fulbright Scholar)
M.S. Chemistry, 1968, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, (Fulbright Scholar)
B.S. Chemistry, 1964, Adamson University, Manila, Philippines (University Scholar)
PAST EMPLOYMENTS:
Research Chemist - Adamson & Adamson, Inc., Philippines 1964
Chemistry Professor - Adamson University, 1964-66, 1972-1973
Chair, Graduate School of Chemistry, Adamson University, 1972-1973
Office Manager - International House• Davis 1988-1989.
Office Manager - Vigfus A. Asmundson, Inc. (a Sacramento Law Firm), 1973-1999
Retired in 1999
ACTIVITIES: School
1. Co-Chair: Davis School District Parcel Tax & Bond Campaigns, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000
2. Co-Chair: Davis Coalition Against the Voucher Initiative Campaign, 1993 & 2000, Davis , CA
3 President: Yolo County School Boards Association, 1993
4. Director: California School Boards Association Board of Directors 1994-98
5. Member: National School Boards Association: 1994 Policies & Resolutions Committee
6. Alternate Delegate: National School Boards Association Delegate Assembly, 1995, 1996, 1997
7. Director: Asian Pacific Islanders School Board Members Association Executive Board, 1994-99
8. Member: Filipino American Educators Association of California (FAEAC) 1997-99
9. Member: 1995 State of CA Superintendent of Schools State Mathematics Task Force
10. Member: State Dept. of Education Golden State Exam Community Review Panel, 1995-97
11. Member: State Dept. of Education State High School Exit Exam Community Review Panel, 1999-2000
12. Member: 1997 State Mathematics Curriculum Framework & Criteria Committee
13. Member: Mathematics Performance Level Setting Panel, California STAR Program, 2000
14. Member: Intersegmental Test Alignment Committee, California STAR Program, 2000
15. Member: Davis School District Secondary Mathematics Advisory Committee, 2000-02
16. Member: Mathematics Content Review Panel, California STAR Program, 1998-present
ACTIVITIES: Community
1. Founding Member: Davis Educational Foundation, Davis , CA
2. Member: Davis School Arts Foundation, Davis , CA
3. Member: City of Davis 2001 General Plan Revision, Economic Development Committee, Davis
4. Member: Wilkes University Council, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
5. Member: Davis Rotary Club, Davis , CA
6. Member: Davis Chamber of Commerce
7. Member: International House of Davis
8. Founding Member: Filipino-American Group of Davis & Vicinity
9. Chair: University Farm Circle Scholarship Committee, Davis, CA 2000-02
10. Charter Member: League of California Cities Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, 2003-
11. Co-Chair: City of Davis Measure P, a 1/2-cent sales tax override initiative, Davis CA, 2004
12. Member: City of Davis:City of Inuyama, Japan Sister City Relations Committee
13. Co-Chair: City of Davis:City of SangJu Korea Sister City Relations Committee
14. Co-Chair: City of Davis:City of Wuxi, China Sister City Relations Committee
15. Co-Chair: City of Davis:City of Los Banos, Philippines Sister City Relations Committee
16. Co-Chair: City of Davis:City of Munoz, Philippines Sister City Relations Committee
17. Co-Chair: City of Davis:City of Faa’a, Tahiti Sister City Relations Committee (in process, 2006)
18. Member: University Farm Circle (President 1984-85)
19. Member: Board of Directors, Sacramento Area Council of Government, 2004-
20. Vice Chair: SACOG Air Quality Committee, 2006
21. Member: SACOG Land Use, Housing & Air Quality Committee, 2007
22. Member: Board of Directors of Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, 2004-
23. Member (alternate): Board of Directors of Yolo County Transportation District, 2004-06
24. Chair: Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Council, 2005
25. Vice Chair: Yolo County Joint Powers Authority
26. Member: KVIE (PBS TV Station) Board of Directors, 2005-07
27. Member: Filipino Women’s Network
28. Senior Fellow: American Leadership Forum, Mountain Valley Chapter
29. Founding Member and President: Adamson University Diamond Jubilee Foundation, Inc. 2007
AWARDS:
Davis Citizen of the Year, 1990, Davis , California .
Adamson University Alumni Ass'n., California Chapter, Award for Academic Excellence, 1991
Yolo County School Boards Ass’n. & Yolo County Ass’n. of School Administrators:
• Distinguished Service Award, 1994
• Golden Apple Award for Outstanding School Board Member, 1995
Soroptimist International of Davis : “Women of Distinction Award” 1996
Adamson University “Outstanding Alumni of the Year”, 2000 & 2003, Manila , Philippines
Philippine & Other Asian Headlines “2002 Woman of the Year”, Sacramento CA
Consulate General of the Philippines , San Francisco , “Commendation for Outstanding Service to the Filipino Community in the Greater Sacramento Area”, 2004
Filipino Media U.S.A. “Filipino Choice Award for Excellence In The Field Of Politics”, 2004
Sacramento & Vicinity Filipino Women’s Club “Outstanding Filipina Award” 2004
Tri Media Group of Companies, 20th Phil-Am Expo USA “Special Award for Government Service” 2005
Adamson University, Manila Philippines, Plaque of Appreciation, Guest of Honor and Speaker at the 68th Commencement Exercises.
Sacramento Philippine Fiesta Newspaper Best Community Leader Award, 2006
Pamana ng Pilipino Award, 2006 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas , from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Dec. 7, 2006, Malacanan, Manila
Filipino American Coalition: 2007 Outstanding Filipino American Woman Award
Adamson University 75th Jubilee Anniversary “The Adamson Award for Outstanding Alumna”, 2007
5th Annual Filipino Women’s Network Summit: “Policymakers & Visionaries – 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in the US” Award, Washington D.C., 2007
PUBLIC OFFICE:
Member: Board of Education, Davis Joint Unified School District , 1990, 1991-1995, 1995-1999
• Vice President/Clerk: Board of Education, Davis Joint Unified School District , 1993, 1997
• President: Board of Education, Davis Joint Unified School District , 1994, 1998
Davis City Council, 2002-06
° Mayor Pro-Tempore, 2002-04; 2006-08
° Mayor, 2004-06; 2008-10
PERSONAL:
Spouse (deceased 4/28/03 ): Vigfus A. Asmundson, lawyer; Mayor, City of Davis , ‘70-72 (Council ‘68-72)
Children: Alinia, (BA Engg. & Women’s Study ‘96; BS Engg. ‘98; MS Engg. Mgt. 99, Dartmouth College ); Irena, (BS Math ‘98, BS Econ. ‘98 M.I.T.; Ph.D Econ, ‘05 Stanford U.); Wilfred, (BA Business ‘00, Univ. of Arizona); Vigdis, (BA BioScience ‘00, BA Classics ‘00, UC Davis, MA Ed., UCDavis); Jonas, (BA Music ‘01, Carleton College, MFA ‘08, Harvard); Sigrid, (B.A. Pol. Sci. ‘02, B.A. Communications ‘02, UC Davis; J.D. ‘05 King Hall, UCDavis)
