In her previous role at Western Nevada College, Lupe Ramirez concentrated on supporting and advising students to ensure their success in higher education and to change their lives.

Now, Ramirez can continue to support WNC students in her new role as a member of the WNC Foundation Board of Trustees.

“I am humbly honored to be part of this amazing team and I feel confident that I can contribute to the fabulous work they are doing,” Ramirez said. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the WNC Foundation Board of Directors. After I retired from this institution, I was looking for ways to continue supporting the students to achieve their educational dreams while still enjoying my retirement. I learned that the Board was accepting applications for new members and I decided to apply. After I attended the first meeting, I had a chance to meet the group and felt welcome by everyone.”

The WNC grad certainly left her mark on the college during her professional career. Ramirez created the Latino Cohort in 2010 to improve the college’s graduation rates and was the founder of the present-day Latino Leadership Academy. The program has helped ease students’ transition from high school to college and provides the framework and support for them to excel in their classes. She says that the Foundation helps remove financial barriers for students to attend WNC.

“I personally saw how the students benefited from this support. I recognized that thanks to the generosity of this community, many students that are the first in their family to complete a college degree made their parents proud!” said Ramirez, who also serves as a Carson City School Board trustee in “retirement”.

Lupe’s dedication to students and commitment to the community are two qualities that WNC Foundation Executive Director Niki Gladys welcomes on the Board of Trustees.

“Over the years, Lupe has been an incredible role model for our students and her hard work has made WNC a better place for them,” Gladys said. “We overwhelmingly welcome Lupe on the Board and know what a difference she’ll make for Western in the future.”