Biography

Dr. Elvia Ramirez is Professor of Ethnic Studies. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California, Riverside, where she specialized in race and class inequality and gender studies. Her current research projects focus on Latinx students navigating the Ph.D. admissions process, and on the bullying and harassment of Chicanas/Latinas in academia.

Dr. Ramirez is the editor of Latinx Migration & the U.S.-Mexico Border: An Anthology (Cognella Publishers) and the author of numerous articles and book chapters. Her research has been published in journals such as Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Equity & Excellence in Education, Sociological Perspectives, and Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. Her research has been supported by various grants and fellowships, including the Anchor University Collaborative Research Fellowship, the Research Enhanced Support Grant, and the University of California All Campus Consortium on Research for Diversity (UC ACCORD) fellowship. 

An award-winning teacher, Dr. Ramirez is passionate about student success and greatly enjoys teaching and mentoring students. Like bell hooks, she believes that excitement and serious intellectual engagement can, and should, coexist in the classroom setting. She received the Outstanding Teaching Award from Sacramento State's College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies (SSIS), and the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the Department of Sociology at University of California, Riverside. 

Dr. Ramirez is the Mentoring Coordinator for the Center on Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ). She has also served as Co-Chair of the Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (CHLFSA), Chair of the Committeee on Diversity and Equity (CODE), and as Planning Fellow for Sacramento State's Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan. For her contributions to the campus community, she received the Outstanding University Service Award from the College of SSIS. 

An active member and leader of professional associations, Dr. Ramirez served as President of the California Sociological Association (CSA) from 2018 to 2019. She has also served as Council Member for the Race, Gender, & Class Section of the American Sociological Association (ASA) and as Board Member of the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA).

Areas of Specialization

Chicanx/Latinx Studies; Sociology of higher education; Doctoral (Ph.D.) student experiences; Immigration; Intersectionality; Undergraduate student research and mentorship; Bullying and harassment of Chicanas/Latinas in academia

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 Conference Presentations

“The Bricks Before Brown: The Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican Americans’ Struggle for Educational Equality.” Author Meets Critic session with Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola. Presented at the annual  meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association.

“Surviving and Thriving in the Job Market as an Ethnic Studies and Interdisciplinary Scholar.” Professional development workshop sponsored by the Committee on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities. Presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Association.

“Chicana/Latina Faculty Experiences with Bullying: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis.” Presented at the annual meeting of the California Sociological Association.

“Decolonizing the Doctoral Education Classroom: Inequity and Resistance.” Presented at the Northern California Foco of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Regional Conference. 

“Chicanos/Latinos(as) in Graduate Education: The Role of Public Policy in the Restriction of Opportunity.” Presented at the 34^th Annual Meeting of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS). 

“La Colectiva: Feeling, Writing, Being Feministas.” Panel presentation at the annual Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS) Summer Institute. 

“Union, Trabajo y Patriotismo: The Evolution of Trabajadores Unidos as Labor Union and Mutualista." Presented at the XXVI annual meeting of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS). 

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 (AERA)

American Sociological Association (ASA)

California Sociological Association (CSA)

National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS)

Pacific Sociological Association (PSA)

Languages

English and Spanish

CRISJ Mentoring 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