Déz Ramos-Smiley,

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Chair

Déz Ramos-Smiley (they/he) began playing the cello in 1998 and has been teaching music for over two decades. In 2004, they began teaching private lessons in Hampton Roads, Virginia, while still in high school. Déz Ramos-Smiley went on to graduate from East Carolina University in 2010, double-majoring in Music Education and Cello Performance. Currently, the co-principal cellist with Symphonicity of VA Beach, Déz, performs regularly and is invited as a guest conductor and adjudicator for orchestras throughout Hampton Roads and Eastern North Carolina. Ramos-Smiley is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion practices- ensuring education is accessible and relevant to everyone. As a Title I Family Support Specialist for Chesapeake Public Schools, they strive to ensure that all students get the high-quality education they deserve. After earning an M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership at Old Dominion University in 2024, they are currently enrolled in an Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, with an anticipated graduation date of 2027. In addition to a musical and educational career, they are an avid cyclist, pickleball enthusiast, and group fitness instructor- and hope to create a more beautiful world through learning, belonging, and the arts.