Bridging History, Leadership, and Opportunity

Mitzi Ramos, LARES Associate Director of Graduate Student Professional & Career Development, University of Illinois Chicago

Mitzi Ramos, LARES Associate Director of Graduate Student Professional & Career Development, University of Illinois Chicago

Mitzi Ramos, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of Graduate Student Professional & Career Development at LARES in the Greater Chicago Area. She is a dedicated higher education advocate, focused on strengthening the education pipeline and opportunities for Latino students.

In an exclusive interview with Education Technology Insights, Ramos shared her perspective on empowering Latino students through culturally responsive education, mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement to foster equity and advocacy.

Shaping Education from Experience

I earned my degrees from three universities that offered little to no support for Latino students, and later taught at two others with the same issue. At each of these campuses, Latino students were left to advocate for themselves, and their histories and contributions were largely absent from the curriculum.

As an English major, I vividly remember being able to take courses in Middle Eastern and African literature, but not in Latino Literature, simply because it wasn’t offered. I sat through American history and government classes that ignored the fact that Latinos have been a part of this land long before European immigrants arrived, and continue to face the consequences of centuries of systemic racism.

These experiences deeply influenced my professional journey. They led me to design courses, initiatives, and programs that I once wished existed, aiming to create the support and opportunities that were missing during my own education.

Connecting Students to Latino Leaders

Many Latino students are unaware of their history in the United States, often seeing Latinos only as victims of oppression rather than as active agents who fought for access, equity, and representation. Additionally, they may not fully understand the ongoing issues impacting the Latino community across various sectors.

To develop future advocates for the Latino community, we must first acknowledge this history of marginalization and the resilience that followed. However, learning from textbooks alone isn't enough. True engagement comes from interacting with Latino professionals who are using their careers to uplift the community.

Latino students need opportunities to connect with community organizers, business leaders, healthcare advocates, and elected officials who are creating change. These interactions provide internships, research opportunities, and mentorship, allowing students to shadow leaders and gain hands-on experience. By doing so, they witness advocacy in action and begin to see how they, too, can shape the future of the Latino community.

Holistic Growth and Career Readiness

A strong foundation for professional development includes self-awareness, career exploration, and skill-building. Students must understand their strengths and values while developing transferable skills like communication and problem-solving. Mentorship and networking with alumni and professionals help build leadership confidence.

Professional growth also involves civic responsibility and community engagement, bridging academic learning with real-world impact. Experiential learning offers hands-on experience to apply theory in practice.

“Every course I teach, every initiative I design, and every program I lead represents what I once longed for as a student.”

Cultural and emotional intelligence should be nurtured through faculty and staff training to ensure inclusivity in diverse environments. Consistency requires cultural responsiveness, intentional design, and continuous professional development to support students’ long-term success.

Overcoming Barriers to Student Support

Student support systems are disrupted by fragmented institutional structures, with academic advising, financial aid, mental health services, and cultural programs often working in isolation, making resources hard to access. Limited cultural relevance, especially amid attacks on diversity, erodes trust and engagement, while economic pressures, lack of faculty representation, and hostile political climates further hinder support for first-generation and low-income students.

To address these challenges, institutions must prioritize multilingual, holistic, and culturally relevant programming that fosters belonging and simplifies access to resources. Mentorship and community partnerships are key for connecting students with supportive professionals, while cultural competency training for faculty and regular student feedback help ensure effective, student-centered support.

Leadership and Community Engagement

This year, the LARES program celebrates its 50th anniversary. Initially focused on recruitment, it quickly expanded to include retention initiatives to ensure students had the support needed to succeed.

LARES has broadened its outreach to high schools across Chicagoland and community colleges, where many Latino students begin their education. A key to LARES’ success is its holistic academic advising, with advisors serving as recruiters, mentors, and specialists who engage with students before they arrive and continue to support their academic and financial needs.

In addition to advising, LARES enhances student achievement through Academic Skills Proficiency courses, tutoring, and opportunities to present Latino-focused research at conferences. These efforts improve academic performance and foster pride in Latino scholarship. Leadership development through academies and community initiatives also helps students build connections, strengthen cultural identity, and develop professional skills.

While LARES has earned national recognition, federal challenges to higher education, immigrant populations, and diversity programs now threaten its mission. The erosion of these services requires LARES to focus on preserving and rebuilding the initiatives that have driven its success. Despite these challenges, the program remains committed to advocating for equity in higher education and empowering future generations of Latino leaders.

Empowering the Next Generation

I want young leaders to understand their history and honor the legacy of those who paved the way for their success. While Latinos haven’t yet achieved full equity across all areas of American society, significant progress has been made thanks to the efforts of countless Latino leaders who dedicated their lives to advocacy and community advancement.

Students must take responsibility for educating themselves about the current issues affecting the Latino community and commit to becoming agents of change. This goes beyond civic engagement—it means using their professional roles to challenge inequality, advocate for justice, and mentor future leaders. True leadership is not just about personal success; it's about lifting others as we rise and ensuring that our collective progress continues.