Safety Science Student Sets Example for Women in STEM
Annelise O'Donnell
Prescott graduate student Samantha Ramos (’20, ’24) hopes to advance aviation and aerospace safety – and inspire other young women to pursue their passion.
A Southern California native, Ramos dreamed of becoming a military pilot from a young age. Her parents, who juggled higher education with full-time jobs and a family, instilled in her a strong work ethic and the ambition to pursue a career that she would enjoy every day.
What Scholarship Opportunities are Available?
Beginning her Embry‑Riddle journey in 2016, she discovered a new passion for aviation and aerospace safety and found a family away from home with Alpha Xi Delta.
Seeking a scholarship opportunity, Ramos was encouraged by her sorority mentor to compete in the Miss Yavapai County Scholarship Competition hosted by the university in February 2019. She has since competed for multiple local titles in the Miss America Organization.
The Miss America Organization has given me a great opportunity to meet other driven and strong-willed women. It is inspiring to be surrounded by women who are so determined for their future but equally supportive of yours.
Despite working anywhere from 25 to 40 hours a week with a full course load, Ramos completed her bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics in 2020 – but she’s not finished yet.
With the aviation and aerospace industries becoming increasingly competitive, she is now working toward her master’s degree in Safety Science while employed full-time as a Purchasing and Property Control Coordinator at the Prescott Campus.
While her primary focus had always been aviation, she became intrigued with space after connecting with classmates in the Space Physics program, she said.
What Can You Do With a Safety Science Degree?
Ramos is most looking forward to learning more about the science behind crash investigation and, upon completion of her graduate program at the Worldwide Campus in 2024, aspires to apply her skills to help create the space industry of tomorrow.
“Because space shuttles still go through the atmosphere, the portion related to safety can easily be combined with what I have already learned about aerodynamics,” she said.
Ramos is prepared to achieve her goals thanks to Embry‑Riddle’s variety of courses and resources tailored to her specific goals and highly experienced faculty, she said.
Supporting Women in STEM
Having won the local title of Miss Desert Willow, she competed for the Miss Arizona title in June 2021 and focused on the four points of the crown, “Scholarship, Success, Style and Service,” which Ramos says has encouraged her to be a better version of herself.
“To be a woman in STEM means to support other strong-minded women and be successful together,” she said. “A beautiful woman doesn’t have to be just looks – she can be brains too.”