Bailey Ramberg found a home at Stanislaus State.
The first-generation sociology major grew up facing the challenges of being a queer child in a community that struggled to show empathy or understanding. She had to depend on her own strength to face each day.
At Stan State, Ramberg found a loving, supportive community, including professors in the Sociology Department who guided her through the program and prepared her for the Master of Social Work program she will soon enter.
“They were cheerleaders for me when I did not know quite how to cheer for myself,” Ramberg said.
In addition to that support, she found other resources that helped her navigate the world of higher education.
“The first hurdle I had to juggle was a school-life balance,” Ramberg said. “The Learning Commons and study groups were key for me in succeeding in a few of my classes. I loved talking with my professors. It helped to get insight about the class, sitting with them in a one-on-one setting.”
One of those faculty members, Professor of Sociology Ann Strahm, was amazed by what she saw in Ramberg.
“Bailey Ramberg is not just an exceptional and curious scholar who provides some of the most demonstrably advanced research and course engagements for her professors,” Strahm said, “but — more importantly — her actions demonstrate empathy, compassion and kindness toward those around her.
“Ramberg’s own lived experiences make her a loving human being in the spirit of bell hooks’ conceptualization of radical love. While hooks often discussed radical love in terms of education, hooks once said that ‘radical love means to aggressively and unapologetically deeply love, without needing a reward or quantifiable things for that love.’
“Ramberg’s radical love comes from being a child who was different and queer in a small, poor, rural California Central Valley community, and who was so stigmatized that she felt worthless and wanted a way out of that pain,” Strahm said. “Because of all this, Ramberg developed in herself that exquisite radical love — maybe not yet for herself, but certainly for others whom she saw facing pain, suffering, stigmatization, exclusion, and hate. That radical love is how she made it to us here at Stan State.”
Inspired by her lived experiences, Ramberg is driven by a deep desire to create a better, more compassionate world for others.
“I plan to work with marginalized people seeking recovery in the community, linking them to services and support, providing them with all they need to thrive and receive justice that they deserve,” Ramberg said.
“I want to help people with treatment plans that aid in prevention, harm reduction, recovery efforts, counseling, and case management services. I want to help them with relapse prevention, to develop coping mechanisms and to connect with their communities.”
Strahm, for one, expects Ramberg to succeed.
“She gives greatly of herself to others who are like she was as a child,” Strahm said. “She works tirelessly with indigenous women’s communities to bring cultural and spiritual goodness to the broader society; to give radical love to each other and to make sure the other Baileys of the community are nurtured, guided and know they matter and belong.
“This is the calling of Bailey Ramberg. She is what this world requires.”
#StanGrad File
Name
Bailey Ramberg
Hometown
Mountain View, CA
Degree/Credential
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
What memories stand out most from your time at Stanislaus State?
“The best memories I have of Stan State are without a doubt of the professors I had in the Sociology Department. With their love for sociology and encouraging me, I am now a confident student. I am skilled in the field of sociology and wave my own pom poms these days.”
Which faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you, and why?
“Many professors have been guiding brilliant lights in my studies at Stanislaus State. Ann Strahm, Tyler Schafer, Barbara Olave and Della Winters are all amazing. Every time I was in a new class, I was convinced the professor was my new favorite professor. Then the next semester came, and I’d have a new favorite professor. If I had to choose the one professor that had the biggest impact, it would be Tamara Sniezek. She made class enjoyable and truly wanted success from us all. She helped us in any way to achieve that success. She is inspiring. She is brilliant. She is a strong powerful woman that has paved the way for others to follow her.”
What advice would you give to current and future students?
“Make the most of your current educational setting. Seek out new experiences, connect with professors and peers, and explore the resources available to you. If things feel overwhelming, connect with others in your same situation for support. You are not alone. Do not give up. Your success is right around the corner. Hitting the gym and taking walks around campus always reset my overwhelmed mind. Stan State provides students with excellent support and resources. Do not be afraid to explore what’s offered.”
Note: This article is part of the StanGrad series highlighting Stanislaus State students who are part of the Class of 2025. Read more StanGrad profiles.
