The UW–Madison School of Education offers academic excellence in areas spanning the arts, health, and education. We are a proud community of innovative leaders, creative thinkers, and fearless trailblazers. Our talented students are committed to making their college experience a meaningful journey that aligns with their interests and helps them achieve their future goals.
Following is a Q&A with Lesley Ramirez, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a certificate in Athletic Healthcare and graduating in spring 2026.
Where are you from, and how did you become interested in pursuing a degree in this field? I am from Los Angeles, California, and became interested in pursuing a degree in this field due to my love and passion for sports and staying active.
How did you decide that you wanted to become at UW–Madison Badger? I am a Posse Scholar so I was fortunate to receive a full-tuition scholarship. Posse has certain partners in certain cities, and UW–Madison was my top pick because they offered Kinesiology and because of the sports culture.
What has been your most meaningful experience with the Kinesiology program? My most meaningful experience with the Kinesiology program has been studying abroad two times over the summer. I was able to go to Portugal and Ireland with two of the department’s programs. I first completed the UW Movement as Medicine in Portugal (course) and then UW Inclusive Physical Activity and Sports in Ireland. I got to travel while also learning a lot alongside amazing professors and my classmates!
What class or professor has had the greatest impact on you, and why? The professor that has had the greatest impact on me is Dr. Shields. I was a part of Dr. Shield’s FIG (first-year interest group) my first semester of college, and she is also my assigned advisor. From the start, Dr. Shields recognized potential in me and has played an important role in my undergraduate career. She advised me on classes and eased my worry when I felt like I was falling behind. She has also been so amazing in connecting me with people and other resources that provided a lot of insight on careers. She is a big reason why I finally feel that I have found my purpose in life in terms of my career goals. I have had the great opportunity to be a part of BUILD, a program created to help underserved youth be physically active. If it hadn’t been for Dr. Shields inviting me to join this program — which she created — I don’t think I’d be on the path I am on now.
What are your future goals or plans? My future plan is to obtain my master’s in Community Health Promotion. My goal with this is to one day work for public health departments or nonprofit organizations to help promote physical activity. I would like to work with youth, more specifically those from underserved areas. I feel strongly for this group because I was once in their shoes, and one of my biggest goals in life is to give back to the community that I grew up in.
Anything else you value about the School of Education or your program that you’d like to share with others who are considering it? Something I really value about the Kinesiology program is how invested professors are in their topic of instruction. I have continuously been amazed by the work my professors have completed and the knowledge they hold in their area. If you are considering Kinesiology, I can confidently tell you there are no better people to learn from than from the faculty and staff in Kinesiology here at UW–Madison.
Do you have any tips for students thinking about how to maximize their experience? My biggest tips for students when it comes to maximizing their experience would be to not be afraid to ask questions or send that email to a professor — because you never know what that will lead to. It was through an email that I sent out that I got my job with Wisconsin Athletics. Something I like to tell myself is: The worst they’ll say is no.
Can you tell us about a time when an academic advisor helped you? I can tell you about so many times my academic advisor, Dr. Shields, helped me with quite literally everything. She has helped me thoroughly think through and plan my class schedule before enrollment, connected me with programs and workshops for career/professional development, and is always sharing study abroad opportunities. In fact, I heard about the two study abroad programs I participated in through her and was able to navigate the process of applying and getting it fully funded due to her help.
Have you participated in any internship/work experience, research, or study abroad program? What did you participate in and could you talk a bit more about those experiences? I do have work experience. I was working through Wisconsin Athletics as a hydration specialist for the Wisconsin Football Team — this is the job that I secured by sending those emails I mentioned above. I worked this job from August 2023 to December 2025. This experience was great in the sense that it allowed me to learn about what sports medicine professionals do when working with D1 college athletes. I have also studied abroad twice, as mentioned above. I would 100% do both programs again. Not only did I get to learn about the culture of the beautiful countries I visited, but I also gained a lot of knowledge in areas that I previously knew hardly anything about. Lastly, I have had the pleasure of being a part of BUILD, a program created to promote physical activity among adolescents in the greater Madison area. I have worked on this program alongside Dr. Shields. I have learned so much about how to turn research and theory into practice. It was this program that made me realize what it is I want to do in life, which is helping communities stay healthy and active.