Christina (Tina) Ruffin returned to the Norfolk State athletics department as the NCAA Eligibility Specialist at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. In this role, she evaluates degree audits and other academic records to ensure student-athletes meet NCAA initial, transfer and continuing eligibility requirements. She also assists with APR, GSR and other NCAA academic reports.
Ruffin previously spent 13 years in NSU athletics, from 2011 to 2024, and worked at every level of the Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) department. She began as an academic coordinator overseeing women’s basketball, women’s track and field, and bowling. She later served as director of academics and spent four years as the NCAA eligibility specialist. Her final four years were as the assistant athletic director of academics and student services. In that role, she oversaw the student-athlete academic support staff and the day-to-day operations of the academic support programs, and served as the academic advisor for football.
Ruffin came to Norfolk State from Georgia State. There, she worked as a tutorial coordinator and football academic graduate assistant from January 2010 through June 2011 while pursuing her master’s degree in sport administration. Before moving to Atlanta, she worked for North Carolina State as a 4-H agent in Hertford County, N.C.
A native of Smithfield, Va., Ruffin was a four-year letterwinner for the North Carolina A&T women’s tennis team and a member of the MEAC and N.C. A&T all-academic teams. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sport science and fitness management with a concentration in business administration from N.C. A&T. She also holds a master’s degree in sport administration from Georgia State and a master’s degree in Christian spirituality and formation from Regent University.
Ruffin is a member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), where she served as chair of the HBCU Involvement Subcommittee within the Ethnic Concerns Committee. She is also a member of Women Leaders in College Sports and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).
She is the proud mother of a 13-year-old daughter, Elle Christian Vickers.
