Biography:

Willyta was born in Miraflores, Lima, Peru to a missionary minded couple; her father, Clodomiro Ruiz Rodriguez, a pastor and her mother, Wilfrida Tenorio Bendezu de Ruiz, an Educator taught her the secret to work with people – service, and loyalty to God’s work which she has embraced all her life.

She moved to this country at the age of 22 as a student missionary: a pilot program led by the General Conference to work in a youth summer camp. She holds the degrees of: Bachelor of Science in Office Administration from Southwestern Adventist University; An Arts Associate in Word Perfect Specialist from Loma Linda University, La Sierra Campus; and a Masters in Youth Ministry from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.

Willyta met her husband Douglas Wamack at Southwestern Adventist University and they have been married for 22 years. They moved to Andrews University after her husband was accepted to the Masters in Business Administration program.

During the past 20 years Willyta has acquired experience in management and the ins and outs on how to run an office. She has worked for Loma Linda La Sierra Campus, Lake Union Conference, Texico Conference, and Andrews University.

It was while working at Andrews University that Willyta decided to pursue a graduate degree and looked at different options but decided to work on a Masters in Youth Ministries. She believed that the main reason for her employment is owed to the students and she wanted to understand them better since she works for them. She graduated from the Seminary with a Master in Arts in Youth Ministries in 2005.

Willyta enjoys taking free classes, reading, attending church, shopping at Apple Valley market. She also enjoys all the bakeries in the area, the fruits during spring and summer, she always looks forward to spring where she can work on her yard planting, transplanting, and caring for her flower garden. Willyta and Douglas are very happy to call Berrien County their home; she says, “Southwest Michigan is the best place to live.”