The Santa Barbara Education Foundation recently elected Stephanie Ramírez Zárate to its Board of Directors. Ramírez Zárate brings a wealth of experience in policy, advocacy, and community service to her new role.
Ramírez Zárate currently serves as the District Director for California State Senator Monique Limón. Prior to this role, she was the Senior Program Manager at Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and worked as a Field Representative for Assemblymember Monique 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 the 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 from 2019 to 2020, Ramírez Zárate understands the foundation’s mission and its significant influence on student outcomes.
When asked about the importance of public education, Ramírez Zárate shared, “Public education has the power to equip students with the tools and knowledge to develop into effective adults and future workforce. It helps students expand their perspectives and world views and establishes values of equality that strengthen our democracy.” She 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.