Andrew Scott Ramey, Ph.D.

Director of Advising, Dietrich College

Bio

Pronouns: he/him/his

Office Location: Baker Hall 160-K

Andrew directly oversees the Academic Advisory Center (AAC), advises a small number of first year students, and coordinates academic policies and practices across Dietrich College.

How long have you been at CMU and how did you get here?

I first came to CMU as a History graduate student in 2009 to study environmental history. I got my PhD in 2015 and briefly worked in the nonprofit sector before coming "home" to CMU's History Department in 2017. I've always loved working with students, so in 2023, when I had the opportunity to support students and advisors across the college, I leapt at the chance to become Dietrich College's Director of Advising.

What was your undergraduate major? How did you end up deciding on it?

I was a History and Philosophy double-major, but I had a really hard time deciding because there were a lot of different things I was interested in. Eventually, I figured out I enjoyed reading and writing and discussing things, especially "big ideas" which led me to History and Philosophy.

When was a time when you struggled or encountered a setback? How did you respond?

One of my biggest setbacks was actually getting into college. I was rejected at all my top choices, and ended up going to my "safety school." This was a really humbling experience and made me question myself a lot. But my dad encouraged me to keep an open mind, and I ended up loving my college experience (Hail to Pitt!!). Plus, I met an amazing person while at Pitt who became my wife and best friend, so I would say it worked out well in the end!

What is one of your favorite quotations?

This is hard! But I think this quote from Marcel Proust sums up why I value and love working in higher education: “We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." I think about that a lot when helping my advisees on their journeys, and on my own.

What is a recommendation for a fun thing you like doing in Pittsburgh?

Check out Pittsburgh's amazing parks! Parts of Schenley Park look like they've been lifted from a fairy tale, and Frick Park has some deep enough woods you feel like you can really escape the city and be in nature.