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Faces of 4D is a series from Student Affairs that explores the diverse and complex ways in which the DU community lives the 4D Experience on campus, in their careers, and around the globe.

When Yoli Ramirez-Tamez talks about growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, her whole face lights up.��

“My family is very close-knit. We cook, we play board games, we’re together whenever we can be,” she says. The youngest of four, Yoli grew up surrounded by both strong opinions and deep warmth, a foundation that shaped the way she builds community today. “My mom taught me resilience, and my brother taught me how to be open to people. That combination has carried me through college.”

Yoli applied to DU during the height of the pandemic. “I saw DU listed as one of the best universities for international students,” she says. “I didn’t know anything about it, but something about Colorado felt like fate.”

Yoli’s first year was a whirlwind. Arriving in the aftermath of COVID, she volunteered for DU’s saliva-based testing program while learning to navigate campus and the quarter system. But she quickly realized she had landed somewhere that matched her pace. “DU is so unique. The quarter system, the professors, the 4D experience—it all pushes you to grow in ways you don’t expect,” she says.

Yoli is now a fourth-year student double-majoring in economics and public policy, a combination she found after starting in biology and chemistry. “I’ve always been drawn to public service,” she says. “But learning how to balance caring for others with caring for myself has been the biggest growth of my college years.”

Her leadership on campus reflects that balance. She has served as director of student advocacy and support in Undergraduate Student Government and as president of the Feminist Student Alliance, and she’s currently serving as external chair and senator for the Diversity Committee. “I’ve stayed in the advocacy world because it feels like home,” she says. “This year, I’m finally in a role that aligns with my vision.”

What sets Yoli apart is the way she leads—not loudly, but intentionally: “Real change happens when people feel heard. My work has always been about creating space for conversations that matter.” She values the relationships she’s built with Student Affairs and campus partners. “The most meaningful part of my involvement has been working with people who genuinely want to understand students,” she says.

Academically, Yoli took a writing class early on that helped her embrace her vulnerability and, she says, made her feel comfortable with “the softer parts” of herself. And in economics, she discovered a language that made the world click. Now, she says, “I see Bayesian probability everywhere. That’s how I know I’m an economist.”

Her interests now sit at the intersection of economics, sustainability, and agriculture, especially in the context of her home country of Mexico. In the future, she says, “I want to go back home and use what I’ve learned to improve agricultural systems.” She’s considering graduate school, inspired by a professor who has encouraged her to explore agricultural economics: “It feels like the right next step.”

When she imagines her future impact, she doesn’t talk about titles or positions. She talks about people. “I want to bring more understanding and grace into the world. We’re so quick to cancel each other. I want to remind people that second chances matter.”

Her advice for incoming students is simple: “Be open to new people, new ideas, new perspectives, even the ones you don’t agree with.” And for international students, “Get an American phone number and a credit card immediately,” she says jokingly.

For Yoli, the 4D Experience isn’t something she learned; it’s something she has lived. “I’ve deepened my intellect through my majors, developed well-being through the outdoors and community, discovered character by learning boundaries, and designed a career rooted in service. DU helped me grow in every direction.”

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