Professor Jennifer Ramos Receives International Studies Association Mentoring Award

Jennifer Ramos, a professor of international relations, believes that diversity matters in the field, where women and historically marginalized communities have been largely underrepresented. Ramos has actively worked to change that throughout her career by mentoring students and early-career scholars. Her efforts have recently been recognized by the International Studies Association (ISA). Ramos is the recipient of the 2024 Susan S. Northcutt Award, which is a testament to her inclusive, generous, and conscientious spirit and unwavering commitment to mentorship.

"It's a great honor to receive this award," said Ramos. "Dr. Northcutt and other smart, path-breaking women dedicated their lives to the advancement of women and marginalized communities so that we could be here today. While much progress has been made, the fact that this award still exists is a recognition that we still have a ways to go on our journey towards justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion."

Women and historically marginalized communities in international studies continue to face many challenges. These include, but are not limited to, exclusionary practices, underrepresentation, invisible and uncompensated labor, gender wage gaps, and implicit biases that hinder their professional advancement and well-being. Her approach to supporting these communities is rooted in active listening and championing just and inclusive policies, practices, and programs in all areas of academic life.

Ramos has taught in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts since 2008. Over the years, she has been involved with numerous impactful mentoring programs. "The McNair Scholars program is one of my favorite ways to engage with students outside of our year-long departmental honors thesis program," said Ramos. "One of the reasons it is so successful is that it provides a comprehensive approach to mentoring, including academic and social support."

Ramos seeks to develop a sense of human connection as a mentor and uplifts students, focusing on their interests and life circumstances. She has left an indelible mark on the lives of many students, including Priscilla Torres '17, now an assistant professor of political science at Wellesley College.

"Throughout life, it is difficult to know if we are making the right decisions or are going down the correct path for ourselves, but Jennifer has always presented me with radical hope for my future," said Torres. "She has encouraged me to envision different paths that I could go down and has challenged me to decide what I want in life. This has empowered me in the process."

Ramos has been a member of ISA for more than 20 years. She has held various leadership positions, including vice-chair, chair, and past chair of the Women's Caucus and the Committee on the Status of Women. These roles have allowed her to organize professional development panels, roundtables, and workshops that support women and historically marginalized communities.

One of the programs she is particularly proud of is ISA's Pay it Forward, which provides perspectives and strategies for the challenges faced by these communities. The program began as a feature of the main annual scholarly meeting and has since proliferated across the regional scholarly conferences, making it more accessible and broad-reaching.

"It is gratifying to see the people I've mentored go on to be leaders and mentors, and continue on the path of life-long learning," said Ramos. "I think it's important to note that whether they realize it or not, they are mentoring me, too. I learn how to be a better mentor, teacher, and person through these relationships."

Ramos also expresses gratitude for the many collaborators who share her dedication to the cause of building inclusive community, including Jamie Scalera-Elliott, professor of political science and international studies at Georgia Southern University, who nominated Ramos for the Northcutt Award.

"Jennifer has been an advocate for women in ISA, in her scholarship, and at her university," said Scalera-Elliott. "I have had the pleasure of serving as a coauthor and collaborator with Jennifer and can personally attest that her leadership is positive, inclusive, and strong."

Ramos' work continues to inspire and pave the way for future scholars. This summer, she is working on organizing an undergraduate research panel at an upcoming ISA conference and celebrating the publication of an article born out of her work with ISA and the Women's Caucus.

"I do not believe it is a coincidence that I ended up becoming a professor at an academic institution where I get to focus on undergraduate teaching and mentorship," said Torres. "As I begin my career, I can only hope to be half of the mentor that Jennifer has been to me. She really does care about the education of the whole person, about bettering the world, and establishing community with everyone she meets."

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