Senior Profile: Andres Ramirez ‘14

When I was looking for colleges to attend, I wasn’t quite sure I knew what I wanted from my college experience. I had no particular major in mind, and I surely didn’t know if I wanted to leave the state. I was fortunate enough to have received a pamphlet from Dartmouth that made sure I applied. The quarter system and study abroad opportunities were enticing, but I did not fall in love with Dartmouth until I visited for Dimensions. One of my first stops during my visit was the Rockefeller Center, and after my tour, I knew then that I not only wanted to participate in Rocky programs, but also pursue Government and Public Policy academically. 

My freshman winter, I enrolled in Public Policy 5 and participated in First-Year Forum. It was my first formal introduction to the Center as an undergraduate and the start of an amazing relationship with the Center. My freshman spring, with the help of Rocky, I was able to secure my first internship in Washington, DC at the Foundation for Biomedical Research. With the assistance of the Civic Skills Training seminar prior to my internship, I was able to immerse myself professionally after having learned pertinent workplace skills – including public speaking, professional etiquette, and policy writing. My first experience in DC was unforgettable, allowing me to explore myself. 

After my internship ended, I went back to Dartmouth to assist the Center with the Republican Presidential Debate. I assisted with the debate hotline, Center logistics, and volunteer management. This was an amazing experience very few undergraduates (let alone anyone) gets to experience, and was even able to meet every presidential candidate after the debate was over. In addition to joining the Rockefeller staff as a student assistant, I also joined the Policy Research Shop and researched river management strategies in Vermont. The PRS is an amazing opportunity for anyone interested in policy, as I learned valuable skills in conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting courses of action to the Vermont and New Hampshire state legislatures. 

After I returned from my study abroad in Toulouse, France, I continued to work at Rocky as the Internships and Communications student assistant for the next three terms. I became very close to the staff over the course of this year, establishing valuable relationships that have lasted until today. My junior winter, I applied for internship funding and landed in Washington, DC once more, working for FEMA in their policy division. Without the generous support of the Center and its Public Affairs and Public Policy Internships, I would not have been able to accept the internship, a critical experience in my Dartmouth career. Once I returned, I helped facilitate the Rockefeller Global Leadership Program, the Rockefeller Peer Mentorship Program, and Dartmouth Leadership Attitudes and Behaviors Program (Dartmouth L.A.B.).

Reflecting on my Dartmouth experience, I have undergone personal and professional growth attributed directly to the Rockefeller Center. Since first arriving at Dartmouth during dimensions, the Rockefeller Center has empowered me through invaluable training programs and mentorship that have enhanced my purposeful, ethical, and process-oriented leadership and ability to succeed. Rocky has successfully served as an institution for leadership development, ensuring I received the guidance necessary to join the next generation of leaders. Thanks to Rocky and the many organizations I am committed to on campus, I have gained a higher understanding of myself, my peers, and the world around me. Self-reflection has allowed me to rediscover my innate passion for leadership and reestablished my short and long-term goals to make a lasting impact in my work. I want to practice what Rocky has taught me for years and inspire other young minds, as I was once inspired myself. 

Andres Ramirez ’14 is originally from Cali, Colombia, but currently resides in Houston, TX. He attended Cypress Falls High School and was an AP Scholar with Distinction, a varsity cross-country runner, and a peer advisor for at-risk and mentally disabled children. At Dartmouth, Andres is pursuing an Environmental Studies major and Government minor. He is a Rees-Jones endowed scholar, founder of the Collis Consulting Group, and has served in an executive capacity in the Green Key Society, Undergraduate Finance Committee, Class Council, La Alianza, Ivy Council, and Tri-Kap Fraternity. Additionally, he has worked as a researcher in the Policy Research Shop and a Program Student Assistant at the Rockefeller Center. He has interned for the Foundation for Biomedical Research and FEMA in Washington, DC and the Wallace Foundation in New York City, and spent his sophomore winter studying French in Toulouse, France. Andres plans to go into consulting after he graduates and foresees going into politics.