Alumna Spotlight: Carla Ramazan '17

Alumna Spotlight: Carla Ramazan '17

JD in Law, Knight-Hennessy Scholar, Stanford Law School, Class of 2027
MA in Global Affairs, Schwarzman Scholar, Tsinghua University, Class of 2023
BA in Political Science, McDermott Scholar, University of Texas at Dallas, Class of 2021
Sage Ridge School, Class of 2017

Favorite Sage Ridge Pillar 

“I think courage is my favorite because it fosters innovation—just taking a leap of faith. Oftentimes throughout history, it has signaled progress and shifting away from the status quo when needed.”

What should Reno-Tahoe families know about Sage Ridge?

“I think the way I come to think of Sage Ridge—and what I’m tremendously grateful to my parents for—is that it’s the best environment for your child and child’s future. I am so aware of the fact that I would not be where I am today without Sage Ridge. It influenced the way I speak, I write, and the way I build relationships with professors. It laid the foundation for so, so many good things to come.”

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Carla Ramazan ’17 has built a resume of impact, leadership, and academic excellence that spans three continents, three full-ride degrees, and a calling to public service. As a Knight-Hennessy Scholar (KHS) at Stanford Law School, Carla is pursuing her JD while preparing for a future shaped by advocacy, courage, and community.

“I think I’ve always had the idea to go to law school in the back of my head,” Carla said, reflecting on the path that brought her from community organizing in college to one of the world’s top law schools. “But upon being in college and involved in community organizing, as much as I loved the work, it felt like we were putting band-aids on something bleeding out. The main thing was wanting to address the root causes rather than the symptoms.”

Her decision to study law is both principled and pragmatic: rooted in the belief that real change happens through systems-level transformation. That mindset has already fueled her work as a co-founder and former Executive Director of the Wild West Access Fund, Nevada’s first abortion fund, which has assisted more than 2,000 people seeking care.

From earning the University of Texas at Dallas 2021 Outstanding Undergraduate Student, where she was a McDermott Scholar and founder of Deeds Not Words, the university’s largest political organization. To her time as an Archer Fellow in 2019 with NARAL (now Reproductive Freedom for All) in Washington, D.C., as a Truman Scholar in 2020, and a Schwarzman Scholar in China, and now a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford, Carla has stood out as a student of the globe.

KHS receives over 8,000 applications a year and selects only 90 scholars based on independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset—qualities Carla has lived out consistently.

While her focus remains grounded in the present, Carla has a vision for what comes next. 

“Ideally, I’d like to work as a litigator surrounding gender issues such as reproductive issues and domestic violence," Carla said. 

Asked about the biggest lesson she’s learned from leading through crisis, Carla shares: “I think the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that the timing will never be just right, but you have to just do the best you can with the info you have at the given time."

Carla has also learned to care for herself while doing high-impact work: “I try to mentally balance everything by taking the work before me seriously but not taking myself too seriously,” Carla said. “Showing myself grace, and trying to not—to the best of my abilities—carry all of the world’s problems on my shoulders…If I’m not filling my own cup, I can’t fill up someone else’s cup. It is not selfish, it is actually critical.”

Carla joined Sage Ridge in 9th grade and quickly immersed herself in student life, becoming a two-time state champion in policy debate under the mentorship of Mr. Sloyan. 

“We learned a lot together, and it gave me a platform to conduct my own research and ultimately refine my ownworldview,” Carla said. 

When asked what aspect of her education has stayed with her, Carla is quick to credit her writing foundation: “The English department specifically was phenomenal, and I can always hear Dr. McGann in the back of my head: ‘Good writing is good thinking just put into words.’”

When asked what advice she has for current Sage Ridge Upper School students: 

“I think as it relates to next steps (major, school, career), go with an open mind,” Carla said. “I went into college undecided and benefited tremendously from that. Use the first semester to try different classes and dabble in different activities and see what interests you.”

“In terms of professional network, have genuine relationships with people. People don’t exert effort with someone who has surface-level connections, but will for someone who has meaningful connections. Go to your professor's office hours. Look for them and you’ll find the ability to connect.”

Advice for Middle School girls? 

“I think my advice is just to be confident and trust in yourself and your own abilities,” Carla said. “So much easier said than done, but don’t try to compare yourself to others. No need to try and run someone else’s race when the world is just large enough for everyone to have their own path.”