Marisela Ramos to Become History Department Chair

Beginning in the fall of 2020, Marisela Ramos, Instructor in History and Social Science, will replace Christopher Jones, Instructor in History and Social Science, as chair of the department. Jones emphasized Ramos’ care for others, academic qualifications, and curiosity.

“I think Dr. Ramos has a rich scholarly background in the academic field of history as well as wide-ranging curiosity about the pedagogy of history at this level. She is a defender of the humanities. Most importantly, she cares deeply for her colleagues and her students. All of these characteristics will help her in this position,” wrote Jones in an email to The Phillipian.

Ramos spoke about the sense of community she felt as a new faculty member of the Andover History Department. She looks forward to supporting her colleagues in their shared passion for teaching.

“I hope to represent, advocate for, and support my History colleagues in a way that honors the passion and hard work that they share with our students on a daily basis. I also remember the mentorship and support with which they welcomed me to the department when I arrived, and I hope to be able to do the same for them as well as for new colleagues,” wrote Ramos in an email to The Phillipian.

According to Karin Ulanovsky ’20, Co-Head of Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Ramos’ appointment is noteworthy because she is both the first female-identifying and queer-identifying History Department Chair. Ulanovsky emphasized the importance of queer representation in higher positions of power, especially in the education industry.

“It’s incredibly important to have queer representation in positions of power, particularly in the discipline of history where queer narratives have been so often excluded. We hope that Dr. Ramos will bring a needed change to curricula that educates on these narratives alongside others,” wrote Ulanovsky in an email to The Phillipian.

Jones hopes to see the History Department grow to be more inclusive of the histories of underrepresented people.

“In the long run, I’d like to see us expand our offerings and teach different histories of peoples and places that are perhaps overlooked right now. In the near future, I am excited to see in what directions Dr. Ramos will lead us,” wrote Jones.

The History Department will continue to prioritize critical thinking and global responsibility, according to Ramos.

“History helps us understand ourselves and others. It helps us understand the societies in which we live. With these principles in mind, the History Department will continue to approach what we teach and how we teach with a critical eye, in order to better prepare our students to become responsible global citizens,” wrote Ramos.