Born and raised in the Philippines, Ethel began her architecture studies at the University of the Philippines and completed her Certificate of Architectural Drafting. She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree with an emphasis in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Southern California when her family emigrated to the U.S. in 1986.

She has worked on transportation, education, prison, hospitality, commercial, healthcare and residential projects in the Architectural/Engineering/Construction (A/E/C) industry. Her work with the American Red Cross Biomedical Services in the Greater Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley grew the life-saving donor base in those areas. After Red Cross, she volunteered and consulted with her daughter’s middle school to grow enrollment and obtain grants. She then worked on expanding the membership and engagement for a global professional organization, RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), as the Development Manager for its west coast region of North America before starting Ethel G. Rubio Assoc. AIA in 2017.

In 2019, the City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed Ethel Rubio to the Adams-Normandie Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) Board that is tasked to serve as a volunteer advisory body to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning related to new and remodeling constructions. She currently serves as the Board Chair and is the only woman on the Board. In June 2023, Ethel got re-appointed by Mayor Karen Bass for another four-year term.

Ethel is the first Filipino-American woman to become president of the Association for Women in Architecture (AWA) in 1995 and first Asian American woman to be president of the AIA/LA Associates in 1994.

Previously, Ethel served as the President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA), leading the alumni chapter to the next level in terms of alumni fundraising and engagement. Concurrently, she served on the UP Alumni Association in America, Inc. (UPAAA) Board of Directors from 2019 to 2021 and spearheaded its award-winning first virtual and global UPAAA Grand Reunion and Convention in 2021.

In 2021, Ethel received the prestigious University of the Philippines Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award for an Alumna for her creative and dedicated leadership, and for gathering the UP Alumni in Greater Los Angeles and beyond to participate in the University’s efforts in humanitarian assistant to needy students and victims of disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ethel’s passion for making a difference has led her to serve in impactful volunteer leadership roles in professional, civic, and alumni organizations. She mentors students, young professionals, and well-seasoned professionals who are interested in taking their careers to the next level. She is a determined advocate for women empowerment, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and sustainability — in and out of the workplace.

Currently, one way Ethel focuses on addressing the housing crisis in Los Angeles is by leveraging her diverse skillset to educate and work with clients on building accessory dwelling units.