Ruben Rojas Betanzos is balancing his final cross-country season at Syracuse with an MBA, biomedical research and advocacy for student-athletes. As a leader in Syracuse and ACC athlete advisory groups, he has pressed lawmakers to protect college sports opportunities—especially in Olympic and non-revenue sports—amid uncertainty across the NCAA.

By the Numbers
  • Betanzos earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and is pursuing an MBA.
  • He has competed for Syracuse in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.
Yes, But

College athletics are changing rapidly, and Betanzos argues that uncertainty could put opportunities for future athletes at risk. He supports the Protect College Sports Act, which is under consideration in Congress and would establish rules for the system, including financial support for Olympic and non-revenue sports.

State of Play
  • Betanzos is vice chair of the ACC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee executive board and previously co-led Syracuse’s committee.
  • He has met with Senate Commerce Committee members and staff, appeared on a CBS News panel and published an op-ed in USA Today.
  • At Syracuse, he also researches nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery, with potential applications for autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
What's Next

Betanzos hopes to work in the pharmaceutical industry, combining his engineering background with business training. His advocacy will continue as Congress considers the proposed legislation and college sports navigate ongoing change.

Bottom Line

Betanzos is turning his experience as a student-athlete into a broader effort to protect the educational and competitive pathways college sports can provide.