Faculty Bio

Dr. Elvia Ramirez received her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California, Riverside, where she specialized in race and class inequality and gender studies. Her research and teaching interests include the sociology of education, doctorate (Ph.D.) education, social inequality and stratification, intersectionality, Latin American migration, and research methods. 

An award-winning teacher, Dr. Ramirez enjoys working with students and is passionate about student success. Like bell hooks, she believes that excitement and serious intellectual engagement can, and should, co-exist in the classroom setting. She was the recipient of the 2020-21 College of SSIS Outstanding Teaching Award and the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award at UC Riverside. 

Dr. Ramirez served as the 2018-19 President of the California Sociological Association (CSA), becoming the first Latina woman in CSA history to serve in this leadership position. She currently serves as Coordinator of the CRISJ Research Mentorship Program, an undergraduate research program that aims to provide students with quality research experiences, faculty mentorship, and preparation for graduate school. She is also the  current webmaster for the Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association. For her contributions to the campus community, she was awarded the 2022-23 College of SSIS Outstanding University Service Award.

Originally from Southern California, Dr. Ramirez was the first person in her family to attend a four-year college/university. Her family roots are in Jalisco and Guanajuato, MX. 

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Biografía 

La Dra. Elvia Ramírez recibió su doctorado (Ph.D.) en Sociología de la Universidad de California, Riverside, donde se especializó en estudios de desigualdad social. Sus intereses de investigación y enseñanza incluyen la sociología de la educación, la desigualdad y estratificación social, la interseccionalidad, la migración latinoamericana y los métodos de investigación. 

La Dra. Ramírez disfruta trabajar con los estudiantes y le apasiona el éxito de los estudiantes. Al igual que la escritora bell hooks, ella cree que la emoción y el compromiso intelectual serio pueden y deben coexistir en el salón de clase. Recibió el Premio a la Docencia Sobresaliente del Colegio de SSIS en el año 2020-21 y el Premio al Asistente de Docencia Sobresaliente en UC Riverside. 

La Dra. Ramírez se desempeñó como presidenta de la California Sociological Association (CSA) en el año 2018-19, convirtiéndose en la primera mujer Latina en la historia de la CSA en ocupar este puesto de liderazgo. Actualmente se desempeña como Coordinadora del Programa de Mentoría de Investigación CRISJ, un programa de investigación de pregrado que tiene como objetivo brindar a los estudiantes experiencias de investigación de calidad, tutoría docente y preparación para la escuela de posgrado. Por sus contribuciones a la comunidad universitaria, la Dra. Ramirez recibió el Premio al Servicio Universitario Sobresaliente del Colegio de SSIS en el año 2022-23.

La Dra. Ramirez es originalmente del sur de California y fue la primera en su familia en ir a la universidad. Su familia es de Jalisco y Guanajuato, MX. 

Courses Taught

• ETHN 11: Introduction to Ethnic Studies
• ETHN 30: Introduction to Chicano/Latino Studies
• ETHN 100: Ethnic America
• ETHN 131: La Raza Studies
• ETHN 132: La Mujer Chicana
• ETHN 133: Crosscultural Aging in America
• ETHN 136: US Mexican Border Relations
• ETHN 137: Race and Ethnicity in Latin America and Caribbean
• ETHN 161: Chicano/Latino Politics and Public Policy
• ETHN 194: Research in Ethnic Studies
• SOC 194: Special Topics in Sociology (Research Methods, CRISJ Mentoring Program)

Selected Publications

Google Scholar profile

Ramirez, E. (Ed.). Latinx Migration & the U.S.-Mexico Border: An Anthology. Cognella Publishers. Preliminary edition. 

Ramirez, E. (2020). "Inequality in the graduate school admissions process: The Chicanx/Latinx experience." In J. Brooks, H. Sarabia, & A. K. Ida (Eds.), Race & Ethnicity: The Sociological Mindful Approach. Cognella Publishers.

Ramirez, E. (2018). "Navigating positive and hostile department climates: Experiences of Latino/a doctoral students." In A. Standlee (Ed.), On the borders of the academy: Challenges and strategies for first generation graduate students and faculty. Syracuse University Graduate School Press.

Ramirez, E. (2017). Unequal socialization: Interrogating the Chicano/Latino(a) doctoral experience. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 10(1), 25-38.

Ramirez, E. & Mirandé, A. (2015). Autoethnography/insider testimonios, common sense racism, and the politics of cross-gender mentoring.  In Caroline S. V. Turner & Juan Carlos Gonzalez (Eds.), Modeling mentoring across race/ethnicity and gender: Practices to cultivate the next generation of diverse faculty. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishers.

Ramirez, E. (2014). "Que estoy haciendo aqui? (What am I doing here?)": Chicanos/Latinos(as) navigating challenges and inequalities during their first year of graduate school. Equity & Excellence in Education, 47(2), 167-186.

Reese, E., Ramirez, E., & Estrada-Correa, V. (2013). The politics of welfare inclusion: Explaining state variation in legal immigrants' welfare rights. Sociological Perspectives, 56(1), 97-130.

Ramirez, E. (2013). Examining Latinos/as' graduate school choice process: An intersectionality perspective.  Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 12(1), 23-36.

Ramirez, E. (2011). “No one taught me the steps": Latinos’ experiences applying to graduate school. Journal of Latinos and Education, 10(3), 204-222.

Barajas, M., & Ramirez, E. (2007). Beyond home/host dichotomies: A comparative examination of gender relations in a transnational Mexican community. Sociological Perspectives, 50(3), 367-392.

Reese, E. & Ramirez, E. (2002). The new ethnic politics of welfare: Struggles over legal immigrants’ rights to welfare in California. Journal of Poverty, 8(3), 29-62.

Selected Leadership & Service

• Coordinator, CRISJ Research Mentorship Program, Sacramento State
• Webmaster, Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, 2024-26 
• Chair, CRISJ 'Building Justice' Podcast Committee, Spring 2024
• Member, Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan Fall Symposium Planning Committee, 2022-23
• Member, Board of Directors, Pacific Sociological Association, 2021-23
• Planning Fellow, Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan, Division of Inclusive Excellence, 2020-21
• Member, University Appointment, Retention, Tenure, and Promotion (UARTP) Committee, 2021-24
• Moderator, Write On! An Interdisciplinary Community, Sponsored by the Division of Inclusive Excellence, 2020-21
• Program Director, Chicanx and Latinx Studies Program, 2020-23
• President, California Sociological Association, 2018-19
• Chair, Committee on Diversity and Equity (CODE), 2014-17
• Council Member, Race, Gender, & Class Section of the American Sociological Association, 2011-14
• Member, Committee for the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Pacific Sociological Association, 2008-11

Selected Honors and Awards

• Microcredential in Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses, Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), 2024. 
• Research Enhanced Support Grant award, Academic Affairs & ORIED, Sacramento State, 2023-24. 
• Outstanding University Service Award, College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies, Sacramento State, 2022-23. 
• Anchor University Collaborative Research Fellowship, Sacramento State, 2022-23
• Nominated as an "Inspirational Poderosa" by the 2022 Outstanding Chicana/Latina Poderosas Mural Project, Sacramento, CA
• Outstanding Teaching Award, College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies, Sacramento State, 2020-21
• Women of Influence Award (Faculty), Sacramento State, 2020-21
• Institute for Social Research Faculty Research Fellowship, Sacramento State, 2009-10
• University of California All Campus Consortium on Research for Diversity (UC ACCORD) fellowship
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year Award, University of California, Riverside

Master's Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Committees

Miguel Lopez (2023). “Counselor Burnout: Latina/o/x Counterstories from School Counselors in Public High Schools with Caseloads of Over 350 Students.” Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), California State University, Sacramento.

Arturo Anaya Servin (2022). “La Jura: How Santa Paula Chicanx Parents Experience Policing.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Armanee Bland (2022). “An Intersectional and Content Analysis of Print Media Coverage on Mass Shootings.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Mayra Adame (2022). “Educational Outcomes: The Effect of High School Factors on College Enrollment Among Students of Color.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Kristina Marie Mayorga (2022). “Mexicanistas Native Mujeres of Aztlan, California.” Behavioral Science Gender Equity Studies, College of Education, California State University, Sacramento.

Eric Alfredo De León (2020). “Farmworkers and Education: Parental Participation in their Children’s Schooling Among Farmworkers.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Patsy V. Jimenez Arellano (2019). “Comunidad, Educacion, y Sueños: An Analysis of Career Aspirations for Undocumented Youth.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Mariela W. Hernández-Torres (2019) “The Impact of DACA on the DACAmented and UnDACAmented.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Daisy Aguilar (2018). “Examining the Experiences for Diverse Women in Settings of Higher Education: An Intersectional Analysis.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Cha Lao (2018). “The Search for Educational Resources: A Study of the Hmong Student Experience.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Lorena Camargo Gonzalez (2017). “Latinas’ Experience in an Educational Leadership Doctoral Program.” Department of Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling, California State University, Long Beach.

Elden Oswaldo Hernandez (2016). “The Challenges Faced by Latino Undocumented Scholars in their Pursuit of Higher Education.” College of Education (Curriculum and Instruction), California State University, Sacramento.

Jessica Castellon (2015). “Shaping Latino/a Graduate School Aspirations and Expectations During Undergraduate Education: An Analysis of Sense of Belonging and Faculty Mattering.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Maria Consuelo Barron Nevarez (2014). “A Chicana’s Testimonio of the Graduate School Experience: An Intersectional and Standpoint Analysis.” Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Mark Andrew Carnero (2014). “The Filipino American Identity Post Colonization: Theories and the Impacts of Peer Group Membership. Department of Sociology, California State University, Sacramento.

Brenda-Joyce Newman (2010). “Interpreting and Implementing Federal Law at the State and Local Level: The Racialization of Discipline.” Department of Government (Political Science), California State University, Sacramento.

Selected Media Interviews, Presentations, and Podcasts

• CRISJ's 'Building Justice' Podcast, The Fight Against School Segregation: An Interview with Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola
• Chicanx/Latinx Heritage Month Exhibit, Sacramento State Library
• Interview with the State Hornet Newspaper, 'Ni de aqui, ni de allá: Las luchas de ser de EEUU con raíces Latinoamericanas.
• Interview with CBS News Sacramento, Annual State of Hispanics Forum
• Interview with ABC10 News, Hispanic Economic Report
• Latinx Heritage Month, Sacramento Kings
• Interview with ABC10 TV station, History of Cinco de Mayo
• Interview with ABC10 TV station, Hispanic Heritage Month
• Interview with the State Hornet Newspaper, Bridging the pay gap and ending gender inequality
• Interview with the State Hornet Newspaper, Women's empowerment conference addresses issues of concern for women of color.
• Interview with the State Hornet Newspaper, Organization promotes higher education to high school Latinas

Professional Associations

• American Educational Research Association
• American Sociological Association
• California Sociological Association
• Pacific Sociological Association

Languages

English and Spanish

Information for Students

CRISJ Research Mentorship Program

The Center on Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ) sponsors a research program for undergraduate students at Sacramento State. The program aims to provide students with access to research experience, faculty mentorship, and preparation for graduate school. See link below for more information.

• CRISJ Mentoring Program website

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 Information for Faculty

Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association

The Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (CHLFSA) meets once a month to create community and advocate for social justice. CHLFSA's mission is to promote equity and inclusion and to improve the status of Chicanx/Latinxs at Sacramento State, within the CSU system, and in the broader community. See link below for more information: 

• Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association