| Carlina Tapia-Ruano '77 heads the law firm of Tapia-Ruano & Gunn P.C. in Chicago. A native of Cuba, she has served as president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. | |
| Your hometown? | LaGrange, Ill. |
| Why Wesleyan? | I was the daughter of two Methodist ministers (both Mom and Dad) at the time, and IWU was a Methodist university. |
| Your major? |
I started out as a political science major (hated it), and soon thereafter changed to history.
It was a good move; I loved history and loving it helped me get the grades I needed to get into law school. |
| Favorite professor? | Not only was Dr. Michael Young my favorite teacher, but without his inspiration and guidance, I doubt I would have made it into law school. |
| After Wesleyan? | I attended DePaul College of Law and obtained my JD in 1980. (PS, I hated law school.) |
| Biggest thrill at IWU? | Actually – graduating!!! |
| For fun? |
I loved going to see all the films and special programs I attended on Friday night at the Memorial Center.
It was cheap entertainment and a great place to socialize with the other students. |
| The best? | Loved the “quad”. Most of my personal and favorite memories of conversations or events took place in the open, on the “quad.” |
| Favorite book? | Whichever one I happen to be reading at the moment – right now it's A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. |
| Favorite artist? | Nora Jones, Gloria Estefan, Silvio Rodriguez, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, etc. |
| Favorite movie? | Too many to list – but a random sampling are: Casablanca, almost all of the Fred Astaire/Ginger Roger dance films, the BBC’s film series of Pride and Prejudice, and even all the Harry Potter films! |
| Favorite quote? | "When that train of opportunity comes rolling in, you better be prepared to climb on board!” — My father. |
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| Carlina Tapia-Ruano is a member of Illinois Wesleyan's Board of Trustees. She received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree when she delivered the University's Commencement address in 2004. |
