Ruth Olson holds a Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania, and teaches in the Department of Comparative Literature and Folklore Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also frequently instructs teachers and other adult learners about folklore studies and documentation methods. Olson is one of the founders of Wisconsin Teachers of Local Culture (WTLC), a network of educators interested in integrating local culture into existing curricula. Olson retired in early 2020 with Emerita status after nearly 20 years at CSUMC.