Senior Spotlight: Lizbeth Ramírez Creates Healthy Communities by Using Data for Good
Lizbeth Ramírez’s mother dreamed of her daughter becoming a doctor or nurse someday. But Ramírez found a different path to helping others live healthier lives. She traded stethoscopes for statistics.
Originally a biological sciences major, Ramírez changed to data science with a minor in health informatics at UC Irvine Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS). “What attracts me to data is the insights you can get from it,” she explains. “Whether it’s analyzing historical data or predictive analytics, like machine learning, data drives businesses and the way people make decisions. When I first changed my major to data science, I was still interested in healthcare and medicine. Maybe not being front facing with patients, but I still have that passion.”
What attracts me to data is the insights you can get from it… When I first changed my major to data science, I was still interested in healthcare and medicine. Maybe not being front facing with patients, but I still have that passion.
Internships Offer Opportunities
Ramírez has made the most of her academic experience at UC Irvine. She joined UC Irvine’s Public Health Information Technology (PHIT) program. She completed an internship through PHIT last summer, which solidified that data was the path she wanted for the future.
Ramírez also completed a cohort program going into her first year with Student Success Initiatives (SSI), called Summer Bridge. “The coordinators were incredibly supportive. And I enjoyed meeting other students because SSI caters to people with very diverse backgrounds.” Ramírez also worked at the SSI office, where she liked talking with students and sharing her experience.
Most recently, Ramírez completed a summer internship at Stryker, a medical technology company in Michigan. In a full circle moment, her mother recognized the company as supplying items in the hospitals she worked at. And she was beyond proud of her daughter.
Battling Imposter Syndrome
As a first-generation college student, one of a few Latinas and the only one in her family in tech, Ramírez shares that she has battled imposter syndrome. But for her, the cure for imposter syndrome is community.
“I didn’t really talk about becoming a data science major to anyone,” she says. “But once I changed my major and told my family, they were happy. But they were worried about me being in a male-dominated field, especially as a Mexican woman because there’s not much representation.”
Students should find their community and not keep to themselves during difficult times. I used to be that way in my first year, and I regret it so much.
Ramírez found it difficult at first, especially having to navigate everything herself. “Seeing the demographics change when I went into my new classes was hard,” she says. “But when you make friends, and you build a network and a support system, imposter syndrome doesn’t hit you as hard. I feel like it doesn’t ever go away completely, but it can be suppressed through community. Students should find their community and not keep to themselves during difficult times. I used to be that way in my first year, and I regret it so much.”
Community Builds Confidence and Compassion
Ramírez points to Women in Information and Computer Sciences (WICS) as an example of community. She began as a general WICS member, enjoying attending meetings and making friends. She eventually became part of the WICS mentorship program as a mentee. “That experience was really what ignited my interest in joining WICS on a deeper level.” Ramírez’s mentor, Paris, still stays in contact and has helped Ramírez find opportunities.
Ramírez eventually became a mentor and joined the Internal Affairs committee. “When I became a mentor, I wanted to continue that cycle of sharing experiences and opportunities,” says Ramírez. “My mentee, Arianna Gonzalez, is Mexican, like me, so we shared many similar stories and experiences. I’m glad I was able to achieve the goal of being there as support in someone’s life.”
Then she applied for and became WICS secretary. “I was very nervous about it, but WICS is so supportive,” says Ramírez. “They were such a big factor in my growth. Being within an inclusive space makes a big difference and I wish I was a part of it earlier.”
Through WICS, she has gained many skills like public speaking, communication and planning. “Being a part of a group like that, where everyone loves what they’re doing and are so passionate about it inspires you to do the same.” Ramírez appreciates the web of support, passion, network and lifelong friendships.
We created it to support students like ourselves who felt they had no proper place in tech. We wanted CODEC to be a part of their journey to continue along this track within a supportive community …
Ramírez also co-founded CODEC (Community of Diverse Empowerment in Computing), which started hosting consistent bi-weekly events for this spring. “I started it with Arianna [Gonzalez, her mentee from last year and current CODEC President], and Viviana Salazar [WICS’ future co-president and current treasurer] after some discussions and the support of Vinh Luong,” says Ramirez. “We created it to support students like ourselves who felt they had no proper place in tech. We wanted CODEC to be a part of their journey to continue along this track within a supportive community where they can ask questions without judgement and receive genuine advice and hear about the experiences of people like them. I’m a part of the Internal team and have helped create several events like Intern Talk & Connect where Arianna and I answer questions and give advice on topics like internships, to help others make the most of their opportunities. I will be graduating, but I’m excited to see our club grow and gain more members.”
Inspiration
Ramírez says throughout her academic career, her friends and WICS members have been an inspiration. She shares, “They’re incredible, and they continuously inspire me to find opportunities, not reject myself before I apply, and to put myself out there.”
Who inspires Ramírez the most? Unequivocally, her mother, Maria Muñiz. As a single, low-income parent, Maria worked multiple overnight jobs while raising four children.
“She has always been super supportive of me,” says Ramírez. “Despite her worries, she still helps me continue on and always makes sure I’m doing okay. Growing up, seeing her work multiple jobs and work so hard has only kept me going. My mom worked long hours at a newspaper factory and cleaned houses during the day when I was younger. Sometimes I would go with her to help at both jobs, spending nights at the factory and days in the homes she cleaned. Through those experiences, I met her coworkers at the factory as well as the wealthy families she worked for. No matter where we were, she taught me the importance of kindness, humility, and always helping others. As we cleaned the beautiful homes, she would remind me that I could build a life like that for myself if I worked hard enough. Looking back, I realized that she ingrained it into me to always work hard and the belief that success and compassion should be things I should always be working towards.”
No matter where we were, she taught me the importance of kindness, humility, and always helping others. As we cleaned the beautiful homes, she would remind me that I could build a life like that for myself if I worked hard enough.
“I might have left tech a long time ago,” adds Ramírez. “But whenever I feel like I’m losing my own drive, I think of her resilience and how she modeled hard work and overcoming obstacles. I remember everything that she’s done for me, and then I’m like, okay, I’ve got to get back up because my mom didn’t do this for nothing. She’s my biggest inspiration.”
Ramírez also counts Jennifer Wong-Ma, associate professor of teaching computer science, vice chair of undergraduate studies, and WICS advisor, as a big influence. “When I took her class for CS122A, introduction to databases, I was happy to have a female professor as it’s so important to have a role model, especially one who is super passionate about her work.”
She also appreciates Vinh Luong, director of Office of Outreach, Access and Inclusion (OAI), as one of the most influential people throughout her academic career. “He’s given me so many opportunities and connections from his suggestions and conversations. He truly cares about students as individuals and doesn’t see diversity as simply numbers, but understands the different backgrounds we all come from and ensures we’re aware of resources. He’s inspired CODEC to be what it is now and has invited me to UC Irvine’s Latine Excellence and Achievements Dinner (LEAD) where we celebrated Bruna de Souza Oewel and gave me the opportunity to meet several members of UC Irvine’s leadership like Dyonne Bergeron, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and talk with her about CODEC.”
Bright Future
Ramírez recently received a return offer from her internship this past summer at Stryker, where she will be a data analyst and work remotely in Irvine. “I hope to be a mentor to others and be there to provide resources and give back to the communities that have given me so much love and support. I also aim to go back to academics through a professional masters program in two years. We’ll see how that goes, but I hope to always be in a state of learning and mentoring. No one feels deterred from being a part of tech. Despite how hard it is, it’s possible.”
I hope to be a mentor to others and be there to provide resources and give back to the communities that have given me so much love and support.
Ramírez encourages other students to explore the many opportunities at UC Irvine. “Take advantage of every single opportunity that comes your way,” she recommends. “Even if it feels like you don’t meet a specific standard, feel intimidated, or think you’re not ready, go for it anyway. You never know what you’re truly capable of, so don’t hold yourself back before you try.”
“Despite how hard the classes are, and how challenging they may seem, you’ll get through it. It may seem like the end of the world sometimes, but it really isn’t. You have your future ahead of you, and you can only grow from there.”
“I’m grateful for all of my experiences. I hope that if anyone wants to contact me through LinkedIn and wants to talk or share any similar challenges they’re facing, I would like to be someone that they can go to.”
– Tonya Becerra