Beatriz Ramirez

• Overseeing project management and assessment for Writing Hub student-focused programming and services using anti-racists and equity-minded frameworks
• Overseeing operations for the dynamic, high-traffic, constantly-evolving WCLS center using asset-based approaches for supporting pro staff and student workers and promoting anti-racist workplace and learning environment
• Develops innovative research- and scholarship-driven equity and inclusion instructional approaches for writing-focused academic support services at WCLS
• Developing assessment and supportive strategies for the WCLS team and services
• Professional training and developmental skills 

Talk to Me About: 

• Marathons 
• Travel 
• Supernatural and Horror Fiction, Film, and Tv Shows
• Research, writing, and higher education

Why Writing Matters to Me (and Why I Think it Should Matter to You)

Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods, in his favorite version of the novel, informs us of his process for writing the novel. Part of his process was focusing on his current writing rather than preoccupying himself with comparisons to other books, drafts, and styles of writing indicating how his current work should be. More surprisingly, he shares with us submitting revisions of published novels with typos (probably already seen by the public). 

Writing isn’t about perfection. Writing is about exploring your process and being compassionate about your work. Yes, sometimes we have deadlines and want THE formula to get published, receive an A, or be called “a great writer.” However, writing shouldn’t be about stress or pressure. Writing should matter because of the challenges it brings, the accomplishments, and the experience of learning to communicate your thoughts, ideas, and findings in various styles. I encourage you to think of yourself as a writer capable of finding your own voice and style as you navigate the different possibilities in which writing participates in both your person and academic life. 

Betty’s Pronouns: She, Her, Ella

Betty joins the Teaching and Learning Commons Team as the Associate Director of the Writing Center. She is enthusiastic about guiding students to discover and rediscover the writing process. She is intentional about building partnerships and collaborations to grow a stronger sense of community at UC San Diego’s campus. She hopes to support EDI efforts and engage with our resource centers and other campus partners to create meaningful programming opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Betty’s professional and academic career demonstrate an interest in supportive services for students and marginalized communities. Betty is a first generation, formerly undocumented student who grew up in L.A. in a low-income household. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in English with a Philosophy minor from Saint Martin’s University. She then enrolled in UC San Diego’s Literature PhD graduate program. Betty’s tenure as a graduate student involved various interests in research and student programming services. Her research interests included: Latin American literatures, U.S-Mexico Border Studies, Chicanx and Latinx literatures, literary theory, cultural studies, genre studies, and continental philosophy. Betty also supported graduate students in her positions as an elected officer for the GPSA and as a Climate Intern for the Department of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. In the final stages of her dissertation research, Betty received the Mellon Integrative Initiative Internship Fellowship to work with the English Faculty at Miramar College and learned about the community college system. She graduated with her PhD and received the ACLS Public Fellows Postdoctoral Fellowship to work on a research project with the  nonprofit, the National Low Income Housing Coalition. 

Most recently, Betty has begun her professional career at UC San Diego as the STARS Director and Co-coordinator of the UC San Diego UCLEADS program. She is thankful for her time working at the Department of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs where she learned about outreach and recruitment and meaningful ways to build partnerships to support undergraduate student research and graduate students on campus. With her new role at the Writing Hub, Betty looks forward to the mentorship of opportunities with the Writing Hub and Commons Team. She hopes to continue research in writing studies and develop strategies for creating a thriving learning community at the WCLS.