In 1997 Ruth received a Dean's Talent Award to study organ with David Boe at Oberlin College and Conservatory, where she also designed an independent major in environmental science. While at Oberlin she was the organist at First Evangelical Lutheran Church and was a frequent performer in student recitals. She graduated in 2002 with both a BMus (Pi Kappa Lambda) and a BA (Phi Beta Kappa).

After graduation, Ruth moved to Portland, Oregon to do a year of service with an environmental Americorps agency. She served on a field team doing wetland restoration, environmental education, and community development projects. While in Portland she was the Organ Scholar at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and worked with the Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choirs. She has also lived and worked in Philadelphia, where she was the Associate Director of Music at Covenant Presbyterian Church, accompanied the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, led diversity trainings for the Attic Youth Center, and studied organ with Jeffrey Brillhart.

Riuth is an active member of the American Guild of Organists and has taught at recent Pipe Organ Encounters in Baltimore and Philadelphia. She was a semi-finalist in the 2006 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance.