[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 106 (Monday, June 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





            HONORING THE CAREER OF MRS. RAMONA CORTES GARZA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 25, 2018

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
the retirement of Ramona Cortes Garza, who served as the Executive 
Director of State Government Relations for the University of 
California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During her 30 years of service with 
UCLA, Ramona used her experience and expertise to be a true advocate 
and leader for the University as well as a compassionate ambassador to 
the community.
  Ramona's professional career at UCLA began in 1988, where she served 
as the Director of Outreach Programming within Public Affairs for the 
UCLA Alumni Association. After only two years in that role, she was 
promoted to Director of Community Outreach. Three years later she 
became Director of Community Relations. During her time at the UCLA 
Alumni Association, she founded the Summer Youth Employment and 
Training Program (SYETP), where she worked to help teens in under-
served communities of Los Angeles obtain summer jobs at UCLA. SYETP is 
a federally-funded program by the Jobs Training Partnership Act through 
the City of Los Angeles. Through this program, youth are given the 
opportunity to gain invaluable work experience as well as educational 
enrichment. Additionally, Ramona spearheaded the Community Directory 
Initiative, which gave people access to the considerable resources that 
UCLA has to offer.
  Ramona transitioned to UCLA Government and Community Relations after 
over a decade at the UCLA Alumni Association, where she served as the 
Executive Director of State Government Relations for two decades. She 
formed essential relationships that helped advocate for the University 
to get their state priorities fulfilled including getting critical 
funding through the state budget. Ramona also led her team in hosting 
candidate forums and legislator visits to campus, coordinating district 
office meetings with legislative staff, and organizing advocacy days in 
Sacramento with legislators where she stressed the impact of their 
funding decisions on UCLA's future. She empowered student interns to 
help organize events, including advocacy workshops and panels covering 
various issues affecting UCLA, and tirelessly dedicated her time to 
mentor others, sharing her wisdom, knowledge, skills and expertise.
  Ramona also worked to establish the Cesar E. Chavez Department of 
Chicana and Chicano Studies at UCLA throughout her career. What started 
out as a small research center has grown and flourished into a 
nationally-recognized department that studies the historic experiences 
and cultural traditions of Los Angeles' largest and most prominent 
demographic. The Department has also been essential in fortifying the 
University's relationship with the Mexican-American community, which is 
integral to the history and future of my district.
  Ramona was a recipient of many university achievements and awards, 
including the ``Woman of the Year'' award by the Los Angeles County 
Commission for Women for her advocacy role on behalf of higher 
education.
  Outside of her work with UCLA, Ramona still found time to help her 
community as an Educational Advisory Board member of the Hispanic 
American Committee for Educational Resources (HACER) of the Ronald 
McDonald House Charities, which gives young people the opportunity to 
pursue higher fields of study regardless of financial circumstances.
  Ramona's legacy is marked by the enduring and meaningful 
relationships she forged with the community, legislators, external 
organizations, student interns, fellow staff members, and campus 
departments for the benefit of the students, faculty, and alumni of one 
of the world's leading research universities and through the work of 
those she mentored.
  After retiring, Ramona will continue to be an active member of the 
community and an advocate for those that are underserved in education. 
I wish Ramona and her family many years of happiness and good health.

                          ____________________