Enlace Leadership Program
Andrea Ramirez
Andrea Ramirez Selected for Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program
Enlace is a six-month development program for college and university professionals
After six months of leadership development and strategic training, Andrea Ramirez, director of Admissions and Recruitment at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, is wrapping up the prestigious Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program.
Ramirez was selected for the highly competitive program, which helps mid-level higher education professionals advance in their careers, for her commitment to Texas Tech Health El Paso and the community around it. The program focuses on key topics such as academic and student affairs management, data analysis and higher education advocacy.
Ramirez, born and raised in El Paso, has played a pivotal role in shaping the admissions and recruitment strategies at the dental school, which opened in at Texas Tech Health El Paso in 2021. She’s also committed to addressing the region’s distinct health care challenges while fostering educational opportunities for historically underrepresented students.
“At Texas Tech Health El Paso we’re growing our own,” Ramirez said. “We have so much to offer the community, and we have such a unique perspective. As I participate in this program, I’ll continue focusing on how we get our population of underrepresented students to the next level.”
With an 83% Hispanic population, El Paso faces health care disparities common in border communities, including limited access to medical services, higher incidences of chronic diseases, and language barriers. Texas Tech Health El Paso plays a critical role in preparing a highly skilled and culturally competent workforce to ensure health care professionals address the unique needs of the region’s diverse population.
Ramirez joined 53 Enlace participants in November 2024 at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Annual Conference in Aurora, Colorado. The program will conclude with a graduation ceremony at the National Capitol Forum in Washington, D.C., in April 2025.
Ramirez graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in women's and gender studies, and a master’s degree in higher education administration. She was an inaugural staff member at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, working under the Office of the Dean to help open the school’s doors to its first class of students. She later transitioned to the school’s Office of Admission and Recruitment. In addition to the Enlace program, Ramirez has participated in the prestigious Aspen Institute’s Hunt-Aspen Fellowship and Socrates Program.
“From the time I started at the dental school, I have been invested in the mission of this school, and this institution and I make sure that I continue to live by those values in the work that I do every day,” said Ramirez.
About the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. It is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.