LUBBOCK, TX --- October 2, 2012 --- One of the country’s leading voices for Elementary and Secondary Education will make an appearance on the Lubbock Christian University campus as Dr. Lisa R. Ramírez serves as the guest speaker at Chap Connection on Friday, October 12th. The event is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Baker Conference Center and it is free to the public. “Dr. Ramírez’s visit to LCU is significant in many ways,” said Dr. Cathy Box, Assistant Professor and Secondary Education Coordinator for the LCU School of Education. “Her message will challenge us to become civically engaged in our communities – knowing that one person can make a difference in the lives of others. As an institution of higher learning, especially here at LCU, we strive to inspire and motivate our young adults to give back to their communities through service to others.” Dr. Ramírez is the author of “Dulcified; Sweetened by the Education of Life” and the topic of her talk at the event will be “Consider Community.” She is currently assigned to the United States Department of Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education as the national director of the Office of Migrant Education in Washington, D.C. She is also a private speaker, consultant and educator. Her primary focus in her private business is to promote educational leadership and the building of strong individuals and families through the convergence of different avenues that include family values and beliefs, cultural competency, education, resiliency, spirituality and service to others. “Dr. Lisa R. Ramírez brings a unique combination of personal and professional experiences to help improve the academic success of migrant students across the country,” reads her bio on the U.S. Department of Education’s website. “A daughter of migrant workers and a former migrant worker herself, Dr. Ramírez left the fields to serve in the United States Army Reserves. She financed much of her college education through the GI Bill and began her career as an educator in 1992, first as a middle and high school teacher in English and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in Texas, then serving as an assistant principal and principal. In 2004, Dr. Ramírez took on the challenge of opening the Lubbock Independent School District’s first charter campus, the Ramirez Charter School. She successfully led all aspects of the new school, from writing and evaluating grant applications, to selecting and training a new staff, to building an effective learning community for students and staff.” Dr. Ramírez joined the U.S. Department of Education in 2006 and in her current role as director of the Office of Migrant Education, she manages a staff of 20 and leads the planning and coordination of all aspects of the migrant education program office, including grant and contract administration, policy, evaluation, and special initiatives. Born in Chicago, but a true Texan at heart, Dr. Ramírez received her B.A., M.Ed., and Ed.D. degrees from Texas Tech University. She is an alumna of an Executive Leadership program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Dr. Ramírez enjoys cycling, hiking, and writing. She currently lives with her husband and two children in Alexandria, Virginia. “(Dr. Ramírez) will share how ordinary people impacted her life and inspired her to persevere through dire circumstances to become the servant of God she is today,” Dr. Box said. “The (LCU) School of Education exits to ‘change lives.’ She is a living example of the difference that can be made in, around and through education. One professional educator with a heart for children and the desire to change lives will make every effort to passionately pursue student success.” Dr. Ramírez will be available to sign copies of her book, “Dulcified; Sweetened by the Education of Life” after the plenary. For more information or to register for the event visit <link http: www.lcu.edu>www.LCU.edu or contact Cathy Box at <link>cathy.box@LCU.edu or at 720-7581. Lubbock Christian University has over 2000 students and is a four-year private master’s level institution that promotes unique educational opportunities with a strategic focus on student success in four key areas: spiritual formation, intellectual growth, personal stewardship and leadership development. Degree programs are offered for both bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. For over 55 years, the school has offered academic excellence in a Christian environment. For more information about Lubbock Christian University visit their website at <link http: www.lcu.edu>www.lcu.edu.