Page 52 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2023 - Online Magazine

He asked if she'd been there before,
and she told him she used to clean it.
He hired her as Tech’s first Cultural
Diversity Administrator. She was to
“recruit and retain under-represented
groups and establish a supportive
environment for a culturally diverse
campus community.”

Over the next several years, Janie
Ramirez helped transform the
face of Texas Tech. She organized
programs and events like the Mariachi
Extravaganza Conference, the
Juneteenth Art Exhibit, Raiders Rojos Promoting college to the underserved was my pas-
sion. This is a picture on the Si Se Puede Show with
National Alumni Chapter, a diversity the cohosts, Ernesto Barton and Louis Trejo.
conference for TTU employees and
students, the Dr. Bernard Harris Jr.
Pre Med Society, the Minority Pre Gaps P-20 Council which serves 20 counties and 57
Law Society, and many others. In 1997, only 12% of the school districts, encompassing 18,950 square miles.
student body was Hispanic. Today, that number is closer Its mission is to promote college attendance for all
to 30%. socioeconomic groups. Janie retired from Texas Tech
in 2018 but continues as Executive Director of the P-20
Janie Ramirez remembered the help she had received Council— facilitating events, workshops, scholarships,
when she was the first in her family to attend a and more to insure that children of all ages have the
university and had no idea how to go about it. She opportunity she received, thanks to her Pop and others
helped Raiders Rojos set up workshops and helped who cared enough to invest in her life.
low-income families navigate the confusing process
of applying for acceptance and financial aid. Back-to- Among many, many awards, Janie Landin Ramirez
School Fiestas grew to 7000 attendees under her watch. received the YWCA Women of Excellence award for
Education. She was named an AWC (Association for
In her role as Director of Outreach for the College of Women in Communication) Gold Medalist twice. Her
Education, Janie initiated the South Plains Closing the essay for the TTU “From Here, It’s

Possible!” campaign won first place.
And Janie’s most recent accolade
is her appearance in the Texas Tech
Centennial commemorative book 100
Years—100 Voices.

More than once in the Bible, writers
refer to the refining value of trials.
Job 23:10 is an example: “When He
has tried me, I shall come forth as
pure gold.” If anyone is an example
of emerging from tragedy stronger
and better, it is Janie Landin Ramirez.
The Raiders Rojos board presented Chancellor Hance
with an award in support of diversity and inclusion in his Texas Tech was lucky to discover her,
office. It is the same office I used to clean. Lubbock is blessed to have her, and
her hero would be so proud.

52 Lubbock Senior Link