Alumni Profile: Ana J. Colls ‘02 and William A. Ramos ‘85

Ana J. Colls ‘02

William A. Ramos ‘85

Two FIU alumni a generation apart become National Urban Fellows

Ana J. Colls ‘02 and William A. Ramos ‘85 both grew up in Miami, attended FIU and dedicated their careers to social services, but until April, their paths had never crossed.

Today, the two – who graduated from FIU 17 years apart -- are both national fellows in the prestigious National Urban Fellows (NUF) leadership development program. This is the first time in the program’s 36-year history that two FIU alumni are fellows in the same class.

NUF is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 as a cooperative project of Yale University, the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, with financial support from the Ford Foundation.

In May, Colls and Ramos were among 48 selected from a pool of 80 national semifinalists. The fellowships, which began in May, involve a 14-month full-time commitment that is equal parts academic study and hands-on training. Fellows spend two months doing academic course work at the City University of New York’s Bernard Baruch College and nine months completing an internship in a government, non-profit or philanthropic agency. They will graduate from the program with a master’s degree in public administration in July 2006.

‘Too good to be true’
Colls earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at FIU through a four-year merit scholarship. Prior to her acceptance into the NUF program, Colls served as program associate for the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, which partners with foundations and non-profit organizations to help solve environmental, social and economic problems.

Colls is a graduate of the 2004 class of Leadership Miami, a program of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and is an active member of the Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade County.

She learned about the NUF program while looking at her options for graduate studies on the Idealist web site (www.idealist.org).

“I was intrigued by the program’s mission and the amazing opportunity it provided,” said Colls. “It seemed too good to be true.”

‘Work in arenas where I can help people’
Ramos, who had been interested in the NUF program for about 10 years, earned a bachelor’s in social work from FIU in 1985. The Puerto Rican native began his career at ASPIRA of Florida, a Puerto Rican organization that focuses on the education and leadership development of youths in South Florida. He also worked with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara M. Carey-Shuler as director of policy and legislation.

Ramos later moved to Washington, D.C., to become the director of government relations for America’s Promise: The Alliance for Youth, founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell. He also worked for the YMCA of the USA as a government relations and policy consultant.

His passion for social work grew out of his childhood experiences in Wynwood, Miami’s Puerto Rican neighborhood that witnessed the Arthur McDuffie riots in 1980. The riots, which were triggered after police officers beat a black insurance salesman to death, drew attention to social issues that had long been ignored.

“Seeing the riots unfold just steps from my house made me realize that what I wanted to do for the rest of my life is work in arenas where I can help people,” said Ramos.

Ramos said his parents passed down to their children a sense of community involvement and set an example of the importance of helping others. His father, a chef who emigrated to the U.S. before completing high school, was a grassroots activist within the Wynwood community. Both his parents were active members of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, through which they worked to improve the community.

Like Ramos, Colls, whose mother is a licensed mental health therapist, attributes her success to the values she learned from her family. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban immigrants, Colls’ parents came to Miami when she was a small child. Colls learned first-hand the hardships endured by those who leave everything behind in pursuit of a better life.

“My family’s selflessness and sacrifice inspire me everyday to do my best and make the most of the opportunities available to me,” said Colls. “In their own special ways, my mother and father have each shaped who I am today.”

‘Advocacy is not dead’
Colls and Ramos met for the first time in April while attending a National Urban Fellows reception in New York City. Their shared Latino heritage drew them together.

“Willie is very outspoken about his Hispanic roots, so when we started talking, I quickly learned we were from the same hometown,” said Colls.

Colls and Ramos became better acquainted during the initial 10-week academic period, during which they were housed in the same dorm, studied together and engaged in occasional outings with other fellows. The program provides each member with a $25,000 stipend to cover living expenses, travel and study materials.

Colls is working currently on her internship as special assistant to the city manager at the city of Coachella Administrative Office in California, where she has transferred her knowledge and understanding of immigrant communities to Coachella’s struggling Mexican population. She says the experience has given her new purpose.

“I’ve found that there is so much to learn working at the local government level, especially in a city that is growing so rapidly,” said Colls.

Ramos is completing his internship in the Office of the King County Executive, in Seattle, where he is serving as an executive fellow working on ex-offender re-entry and homeless-related issues. His interest is in public policy and urban planning and how they impact urban communities.

Next year the fellows will reunite at City University of New York to satisfy their final academic requirements before graduating in July. It will be an opportunity for Colls and Ramos to share their internship experiences, talk about future plans and reminisce about the city and cultures that have brought them this far.

Ramos believes positive change can be achieved through collaboration between developers and government. Working to improve urban communities is challenging, he acknowledges, but those principles learned from childhood keep him focused.

“Advocacy is not dead,” said Ramos. “There will always be someone to speak up when there is an injustice.”

-- Sue Arrowsmith, Editorial Services intern

| back |