Realizing Potential: From Scholarship to Legacy

Jennifer Ramos grew up in an athletic family.  As the eighth child in a family of nine, she became involved in sports at a young age and knew athletics would always be an important part of her life. She was also interested in law enforcement and, knowing a few people in the industry, was set on becoming a police officer and serving her community. What she wasn’t expecting was that her life would take a turn that would change her forever and touch the lives of so many in her path.

Jennifer was recruited to Nova Southeastern University (NSU) with a full paid athletic scholarship in 1993 and then received her B.S. in Psychology in 1995. She was on the volleyball team for her junior and senior year and quickly became close to her peers as well as NSU faculty.  The university atmosphere and friendliness of the campus setting immediately appealed to her–this was the sense of community she had been looking for.

Deciding she wanted to get more involved, she began a work study program in NSU’s Financial Aid department which led her to become a loan processor. Shortly thereafter she received her M.S. in Elementary in Education. Her love of sports then drew her to the Athletics Department where she became Assistant Coach for the women’s volleyball team as well as Head Coach for NSU University School.  These experiences provided her with valuable insight on the issues impacting the lives of undergraduate students. She then went on to work in the NSU Admissions and Advancements departments which eventually led her to her current position–Director, Presidential and Trustee Relations and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees. NSU President George Hanbury asked Jennifer to join his executive team in 2011 and she has been an integral part of NSU leadership ever since. In 2017 she will celebrate her 22^nd year as an employee of the university.

NSU has become a second home for Jennifer. “I wouldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for NSU. I grew up here and found my purpose. This is my second family, I love being part of this community,” she said.

Spending nearly half her life at NSU inspired Jennifer to give back and “pay it forward” to future aspiring athletes so she became a member of NSU’s 1964 Society, leaving a gift for undergraduate student-athletes.  Named for the university’s founding year, the 1964 Society connects legacy gift donors and their families with the university to establish a meaningful and lasting relationship.

“I want others to have the same opportunity I did. Getting an education while playing a sport gives you critical life management skills.  It’s about team work and accomplishing a common goal. Every young person should be given a chance to have that experience,” says Jennifer. She and her husband also started the Eddie & Jennifer Ramos Changing Lives Scholarship in 2011 which is awarded each year to an NSU student-athlete.

Jennifer admires her mother who was one of her inspirations to give. “She always made time for others, whether it was to help out at an event or even to just lend an ear,” she said. “No matter how busy she was chasing us around, she always managed to find time to help someone out. I learned a lot from her and hope that I can touch half as many lives as she did.”

The opportunity to become a founding member of NSU’s 1964 Society ends December 31, 2016, but there is no expiration date for when people can create a legacy gift to the university. For more information, please contact Andrea Darlow, director of development for legacy gifts at (954) 262-2135 or at adarlow@nova.edu.