Our Resident Influencer
Above: Manny Ramirez ’24, M.S. ’26, at left, interviews Paul Zalauskas ’25.
Manny Ramirex ’24, M.S. ’26, discovered his creative career path while getting a taste of social media stardom.
Story and Photos By Nancy Sheehan
Manny Ramirez ’24, M.S. ’26, is an Instagram celebrity on campusthanks to his popular Mic’d Up Mondays video series. What started as a simple undergraduate internship project in Student Affairs turned into a budding viral sensation that showcases Ramirez’s easygoing charisma and natural ability to connect with fellow students.
Ramirez is a first-generation college student who, with the support of the Worcester State community, learned to navigate the challenges of higher education and emerged as a campus leader, graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration, management, and operations. Now a graduate assistant in the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, Ramirez is using his platform to uplift his fellow students.
Mic’d Up Mondays appears at instagram.com/wsureslife and features Ramirez roaming campus with a microphone, asking students about everything from pop culture trivia to rhyming challenges. Students who participate in the video interviews have the chance to win dining dollars.
Ramirez exudes a warm personality and genuine interest in connecting with others, making the series a must-watch for students each week.
“I never expected it to go this far,” Ramirez said. When he began Mic’d Up Mondays as an undergraduate, “It was more like, ‘Okay, I’m here for an internship and I’m going to do this,’ and then it kind of just took off.” Students now recognize him as he walks around campus with his microphone. Some are more eager than others to participate, and it’s always up to each student to decide whether to talk with him.
Each week revolves around a different theme. One week he might ask, “Where is the green light on a stoplight?” and “In which direction does the sun set?” while another might introduce pop culture trivia: “When did the first High School Musical movie premiere?” and “Which animated movie features the song ‘Let It Go’?”
Ramirez has also approached students wearing headphones to ask what they’re listening to. As his video production skills have grown through his hands-on experience with Mic’d Up Mondays, he’s become more comfortable in front of the camera. By editing the videos each week, he’s developed his creative and technical abilities, too.
Ramirez engages with students in a fun, lighthearted way that resonates with both the campus community and families of students.
“I’ve had people actually recognize me and come up to say they watch my videos,” he said. “It just happens randomly. During the homecoming football game, a mother of a student said, ‘Are you Mic’d Up Mondays? I love watching your videos every week.’ It’s cool to know that it goes beyond just the residents here, that parents and families also see it.”
As the youngest of three and the first in his family to attend college, Ramirez carries the hopes and expectations of his family. He said he harnesses this to motivate himself and to give back to the community. As a resident assistant on campus, for example, he works to foster an inclusive space for students.
While he is the one in front of the camera, he said support of others is critical to the series’ success. Kristen Nelson, director of residence life and student experience, gave Ramirez the idea of doing the series and provided him with a microphone to get started. Sarah Garabedian, a graduate assistant on the residence life marketing team, does the camera work while Ramirez is wielding the mic and then helps with video editing, especially when Ramirez is busy with class, soccer, and other commitments.
Now, as he pursues his master’s degree in business management, Ramirez is exploring job opportunities in marketing and social media, hoping to blend his passions and capitalize on the online influence he has already built.
He said the video series has allowed him to learn more about himself and his capabilities, especially in terms of being comfortable speaking to a (virtual) crowd. He’s also gained confidence in his creativity, and in his ability to dream up engaging content that connects with the campus community. He sees the potential to someday use his video production skills to benefit him in his future career.
“I’ve learned a lot about how to create interesting content and connect with people through Mic’d Up Mondays,” Ramirez said. “It’s allowed me to develop my creativity and people skills, and it would be great if maybe that could translate to a career in marketing or social media someday.”