NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – For Rafael Ramos, growing up in Altus, Oklahoma, meant learning the value of hard work in his family’s restaurants. This December, he earns his second degree from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Accountancy, as he prepares to launch his career with Ernst & Young.
“Accounting isn’t just about numbers – it’s about understanding their meaning and making a difference for businesses,” said Ramos, who also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from OU in 2023.
Ramos discovered his passion for auditing in a class taught by OU faculty members Kevan Jensen, Ph.D., and Devin Williams, Ph.D., whose enthusiasm for auditing sparked a deeper interest. Faculty support, including mentorship from Joe Dulin, director of the Master of Accountancy Program at OU, helped Ramos secure internships at top firms, including Ernst & Young in Oklahoma City where he will begin working as an associate after graduation.
Growing up, Ramos gained firsthand experience in business by working at his family’s restaurants, Araceli’s Restaurant and The Plaza Mexican Restaurant. He managed daily finances, oversaw inventory, coordinated with vendors and supervised more than 50 employees. “What I have learned at OU and through my internships will help me give back to my family’s businesses,” he said.
Balancing school, internships, leadership roles and a new marriage was challenging. Ramos married Jordan Guerrero Ramos, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a 4.0 grade-point average from OU last year. As Beta Upsilon Chi’s treasurer, Ramos managed a $200,000 budget and 175 members, gaining experience in financial oversight and team collaboration. He also has served as a graduate teaching assistant to assistant professor of accounting Meng Li, Ph.D., helping in courses like Intermediate II Accounting, Planning and Operations Management, and Managerial Economics.
“Prioritization and organization were key,” Ramos said. “My time at OU prepared me to adapt and succeed in any challenge.”
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has awarded the University of Oklahoma a $25 million grant to help construct a new OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center facility in Tulsa, a project that will house the newly named TSET Clinical Research Center and significantly expand access to clinical trials and cancer care in the region.
Mike Banad, a researcher with the University of Oklahoma, has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to pursue the development of advanced materials that could shape the future of energy-efficient electronics and photonics.
A new partnership between the University of Oklahoma School of Music and the Norman-based nonprofit SunHive Collective is giving OU students hands-on experience working with young adults with special needs, an opportunity that music education faculty member Melissa Baughman, Ph.D., calls “pure joy.”
