John Brown University has announced a new dean for the College of Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences, starting in July 1, 2022. Aida Ramos will replace longstanding dean J. Richard Ellis.
Ramos grew up in El Paso, Texas. She was a first-generation college student at Texas A and M. She earned her masters and Ph.D. in sociology at University of Texas–Austin. Ramos previously worked as a department chair at George Fox University and associate professor of social work, sociology and criminal justice at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. Ramos was drawn to work in Christian education out of “advocacy and concern and care for inequality that happens right in front of our faces,” she said.
Ramos was first introduced to John Brown University by professor Amina Arrington at a conference for first-generation college students. Arrington then invited her visit JBU in 2018, and she gave a visiting lecture to the JBU community on supporting first-generation Latinx students at Christian colleges. “I was struck by how determined the community was to learn about things they needed to learn, like diversity and inclusivity, openness and creating welcoming environments,” she continued. “I thought ‘wow, this place does not shy away from talking about really hard things in the world.’”
“I am interested in increasing diversity in Christian higher education and thinking how to improve faculty and students,” she said. “I think the thing I am most looking forward to in that position is being able to think about collectively understanding what the needs are amongst students and faculty,” Ramos continued. Cultivating community and caring for others and helping them achieve their goals are also aspects that she looks forward to.
Ramos’s goals for her department include understanding what will become the collective vision for the college. “All of these disciplines encompass caring for people, dealing with some of the most significant social problems in the world. The fact that we are preparing Christian students to be the ones to speak and bring light to those spaces means that there is a really important holy work being done in the college. What is our vision going to be and how do we reach it?”
Ramos is excited to be a part of the growing conversation on campus about first generation students, Latinx and Native American student success, diversity and inclusion. “These things are actually good for everyone and God is moving on Christian campuses about these issues in beautiful and meaningful ways,” she said. Ramos suggested an increase in kindergarten through high school Latinx teachers in Siloam Springs means that education for teachers should innovate to support these teachers.
“What does it mean to be a Christian campus that is engaging with the world that is in conflict ideologically? What does it mean to be a Christian campus that talks about things that haven’t been talked about before like experiences of people of color, first generation students and women in Christian spaces?” Ramos continued, “How do we make sure the voices of everyone are heard?”