Ru has an extensive background in education and filmmaking. He began his educational career at Utah State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in literature. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Ru worked as a film researcher on several network television programs that aired on the CBS network. He then began graduate studies at Utah State University where he completed a master’s degree in English, with an emphasis in writing, and an Ed.S. degree in instructional technology, with an emphasis in interactive multimedia/learning technologies. During his studies at Utah State, Ru was selected as the outstanding scholar (Ed.S.) in Instructional Technology (1999). Ru continued his education with an M.F.A. degree in film studies and production at the University of Utah (2003). And in 2011, he completed a Ph.D. in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah.