Every month the Administrative/Professional (A/P) Council highlights an A/P staff member through a series of questions as another way for the Illinois State community to connect. This month, readers can get to know A/P staff that were recently elected to representative positions on A/P Council. Melissa Ramirez-Osorio, academic advisor/recruiter for the College of Education, was elected to serve as Campus Communications Committee representative.
Campus Communications Committee Representative: Melissa Ramirez-Osorio
Job title/position
Until recently, I served as an admissions counselor, Office of Admissions. I will soon begin a new role as academic advisor/recruiter for the College of Education
What are your responsibilities in this role?
In my previous role, I did recruitment of freshmen in the Chicagoland area, with a focus on Chicago Public Schools and Latina/o/x student recruitment. I also provided information to families in Spanish regarding ISU and the college search process.
In my new role, I will work with the College of Education in the recruitment of students for our new early childhood education-workforce online program and will serve as their academic advisor.
How long have you been an employee at ISU?
I have been at ISU since July 2018.
What do you love most about working at ISU?
I love that I get to meet students from the Chicagoland area, and once they’re on campus, they fall in love with ISU. Our campus is vibrant, friendly, beautiful, and welcoming to students, and it makes my job easier to talk to others about ISU.
What is one fact about yourself that might surprise people?
Both my sister and I graduated from ISU together in December 2021. I earned my master’s in the CSPA program, and my sister earned her bachelor’s in biology.
When you’re not working, what are you most likely doing?
Spending time with my fiancé, David, and our two pets, Nico and Wisp. I also spend some evenings/weekends roller skating with my sister. In the summer, you can find us skating on the trail and sometimes on the Quad.
What is your favorite spot on campus?
The Atrium! While I spend a lot of time there for admissions presentations, I love the view of the Quad and campus. When I was completing my master’s, I spent a lot of time up there working on assignments and enjoying the view of campus.
What quote most inspires you? Why?
“It takes a long time for women to feel it’s all right to be chingona. To aspire to be a chingona! … You are saying, ‘This is my camino, this is my path and I’m gonna follow it, regardless of what culture says.’” —Sandra Cisneros
Traditionally, the word chingona would have negative connotations when said to a woman, but the women in my family used it differently. We say we are chingonas whenever we excel in something, to say that we are intelligent, and we can get anything we set our minds to. As I navigate spaces that were not created for me, I remember that I am “bien Chingona,” like my mother and all the women in my family!
