[1] Omayra Ortega received bachelor's degrees in mathematics and music from Pomona College in 2001.

Her dissertation was on mathematical epidemiology, titled "Evaluation of Rotavirus models with coinfection and vaccination"; her advisers were Herbert W. Hethcote and Tong Li.

[2][3] In 2006 Ortega became an instructor of applied mathematics at Arizona State University and was promoted to assistant professor after she received her PhD in 2008.

[8] In 2020 Ortega was named an Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Service Award recipient.

[1] In 2023, she became an AWM fellow "for her dedication to providing opportunities for under-represented groups, especially women and girls, to become involved in and advance in the mathematical sciences; for her outreach work at regional and national levels; for being an exceptional mentor and role model; and for her commitment to advancing the mission of AWM.