The Santa Barbara Education Foundation has elected Stephanie Ramírez Zárate to its Board of Directors. She brings experience in policy, advocacy, and community service to her new role.
Ramírez Zárate currently serves as the district director for California State Sen. Monique Limón. Previously, she was the senior program manager at Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), and worked as a field representative for then-Assemblymember Limón.
Ramírez Zárate earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public policy from UCLA, after transferring from Santa Barbara City College.
While studying at UCLA, she served on the board for IDEAS, a student advocacy group that supported undocumented students. In her role as fundraising chair, she led efforts to secure financial support for undocumented students pursuing higher education in the Los Angeles area.
With prior experience as a Santa Barbara Education Foundation Board member, 2019-20, Ramírez Zárate understands the foundation’s mission and its influence on student outcomes.
“Public education has the power to equip students with the tools and knowledge to develop into effective adults and future workforce,” Ramírez Zárate said with regard to the importance of public education.
“It helps students expand their perspectives and world views and establishes values of equality that strengthen our democracy,” she said.
She also emphasized the significance of the multi-sector approach to supporting public education in Santa Barbara, which enriches the local community and positively impacts future generations.
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation promotes private support of Santa Barbara’s public education system, serving some 12,500 students in 19 schools. For more, visit santabarbaraeducation.org.