Ruby Payne

Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D., is recognized for her extensive work across various fields including education, social services, criminal justice, healthcare, the workplace, and emotional poverty, focusing particularly on overcoming economic class barriers. She is the founder of aha! Process, a company established in 1996 that provides training solutions aimed at fostering understanding and cooperation across different socio-economic classes. Payne's acclaimed book, "A Framework for Understanding Poverty," has not only sold 1.8 million copies but is also foundational in educational and professional communities, helping hundreds of thousands of professionals from educators to business leaders enhance their effectiveness.

Payne's contributions to literature and training methodologies also include other well-received publications such as "Emotional Poverty in All Demographics" and "Before You Quit Teaching," both of which have won IPPY awards. Furthermore, her books "Bridges Out of Poverty" and "Removing the Mask: Giftedness in Poverty" are significant in their impact on understanding and addressing the challenges faced by underprivileged communities. Her work has been acknowledged with several awards, including the REVERE Golden Lamp Award in 2014 for the 5th edition of "A Framework for Understanding Poverty: A Cognitive Approach."

In addition to her acclaimed publications, Payne's global reach is evident as she has conducted workshops and training in locations including Australia, China, Europe, India, North America, and Southeast Asia. Her strategies not only aim at improving educational outcomes but also extend to enhancing community engagement and effectiveness in various professional domains. Ruby Payne continues to reside in Texas, where she enjoys family time with her husband, Tee, her son Tom, his husband, Carlos, and her new grandson, along with Tee's children and grandchildren.