Renne Estrada
Staff Writer
Transfer student Crystal Ramos made history as the first student from the state to be selected as an ambassador for the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students.
Once a year the NISTS selects four transfer students from the country to win the award. This year Ramos will be representing A&M-San Antonio at the annual NISTS conference Feb. 21-23, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Winners were selected based on their ability to convey leadership and public speaking skills within their transfer student programs.
“I always thought that one of our students would be there representing the university,” said Juan Espinoza, the assistant director for Transfer Student Engagement. “And I think that the fact that it happened now, with Crystal, is just amazing.”
Ramos, a marketing junior, has worked for the transfer center since the spring of 2023 when she transferred to A&M-San Antonio from Palo Alto College.
She previously worked as a transfer student retention coordinator for the center and most recently became the Silver Liners lead mentor. Silver Liners is a program designed to help new transfer students be successful in their transition year to A&M-San Antonio.
“She had spent a whole semester closely working with retention and helping that piece of the transfer center,” Espinoza explained. “It’s the newest piece of the transfer center, so a lot of the things that they did in terms of retention were new. We were still trying to find out the needs of the students and she did a really great job with that.”
After the conference Ramos will continue working with faculty and staff at A&M-San Antonio to advance transfer-affirming programs and advocacy efforts, Ramos said.
During the conference, Ramos will be part of a panel discussion, attend meet-and-greet sessions and receive her award at the NISTS award ceremony.
In addition to being named a national transfer student ambassador, Ramos will receive a $500 scholarship and be given the opportunity to publish an article on the NISTS website or participate in a Transfer Nation Talks podcast interview.
“It is an unimaginable honor,” Ramos said excitedly. “I have an opportunity to connect with other transfer students from other schools.”
