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Class of 2026: Honors grad Lizbeth Fierro Ramos finds a global path forward at С��è��ý

Story by Misty Bouse, photos by Photos By Ric Getter and Robert Assadi.

Lizbeth Fierro Ramos wants to help make the world better through international relations, and her time at С��è��ý has helped her turn that global ambition into a clear academic path.

The international student from Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico, has completed her final term at С��è��ý with a 3.92 GPA, membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a Global Studies Award. This fall, she will transfer to the Portland State University Honors College, where she plans to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

Fierro Ramos, who lives in North Portland, speaks Spanish, English and Korean. She attended preparatory school in Mexico before coming to С��è��ý, where she found a place to explore her interests, build community and imagine a future rooted in civic purpose.

She once pictured herself studying linguistics, culture or languages. But after moving to the United States and following news in both the U.S. and Mexico, her academic focus shifted.

“I never saw myself studying political science,” Fierro Ramos said. “I had some interest in getting to know the politics of my country better when I was in junior high, but that interest grew exponentially after I arrived in the U.S.”

She also has considered becoming a lawyer and hopes to keep international relations at the center of her future work.

“I will always hold space to either study or work in U.S.-Mexico relations or Mexico’s international relations,” she said.

At С��è��ý, Fierro Ramos participated in the West Coast Model European Union, an experience that supported her interest in international affairs. She also is participating in the nonpartisan Democracy House’s Young Leaders Summer Institute Program, where she will learn to navigate conflict and better understand the global and historical contexts of democracy.

Her goals may include work connected to housing or law. She also hopes to continue her education, possibly earning a doctorate. Fierro Ramos said she hopes to graduate from PSU by 2028. For Fierro Ramos, being an international student has meant much more than studying abroad.

“Being an international student means an exchange of culture, knowledge, experiences, realities and perspectives with everyone,” she said. “It is transformative and mind-opening because you challenge your own ways in a foreign country, most of the time alone.”

She said she also wants to acknowledge her “loving family,” who have made sacrifices to support her education. At the same time, she recognizes that access to education remains unequal.

“Opportunities are unequal,” Fierro Ramos said. “Education is expensive, sometimes unaffordable for people who are systematically disadvantaged. Ironically, the people who most need information about how to navigate and break systemically imposed barriers are often the ones who get excluded.”

At С��è��ý, she found support from people and programs that helped make her transition possible. Fierro Ramos worked as a student organizer in the Office of Civic Leadership Development, used the Panther Pantry and the Student Basic Needs Center’s Meals in the Moment Program, worked with tutors, accessed counseling through Hope Services and found guidance through faculty, staff and the Office of International Student Services (OISS).

“The OISS family is always there for us to answer questions and make sure our status is healthy,” she said. “I can see how hard they work to provide services for us.”

Fierro Ramos said С��è��ý’s value comes from the people who make the college community work every day, including students, faculty, librarians, custodians and staff across departments.

“My time at С��è��ý was a boost for my academic and personal life,” she said. “I am sure that in a few years, I will look back and see how much С��è��ý people helped me become who I am and get where I am.”

Her advice to other students is to remember they are not alone.

“Believe in yourself,” Fierro Ramos said. “Take risks, and give yourself some grace, too.”