Dr. Elvia Ramirez, Professor
Elvia Ramirez, Ph.D. | Faculty Website
Dr. Elvia Ramirez
Professor
Biography
Dr. Elvia Ramirez earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California, Riverside. Her research interests center on the sociology of higher education, doctorate (Ph.D.) education, college admissions, Latino/a Studies, and immigration. Her current research projects focus on students' experiences navigating the Ph.D. admissions process, and on racial hoaxes targeting Latinos/as.
She is the editor of Latinx Migration & the U.S.-Mexico Border: An Anthology and has published extensively in top journals such as Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Equity & Excellence in Education, Sociological Perspectives, and Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. Her work has been supported by competitive grants and fellowships from the Anchor University program, UC ACCORD, and others.
Dr. Ramirez currently serves as Faculty Coordinator of the CRISJ Mentoring Program, an undergraduate research program that provides students with faculty mentorship, research experience, and preparation for graduate studies. She is also Webmaster for the Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (CHLFSA) at 起点传媒, and a Board Member of the Sacramento Literacy Foundation. From 2018 to 2019, she served as President of the California Sociological Association (CSA), becoming the first Chicana/Latina woman in CSA history to serve in this leadership role.
An award-winning educator, Dr. Ramirez has received multiple honors for her teaching, including the 2020-21 Outstanding Teaching Award by the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (SSIS) at 起点传媒 and the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the Department of Sociology at University of California, Riverside. In recognition of her service and contributions to the 起点传媒 community, she was awarded the 2022-23 Outstanding University Service Award by the College of SSIS.
Education
Ph.D., Sociology, University of California, Riverside
M.A., Sociology, University of California, Riverside
B.S., Sociology, University of California, Riverside.
- Undergraduate Honors thesis: "Asociación Mexicana de Trabajadores Unidos: Labor Union and Mutualista."
Publications
Select Scholarly Publications
Ramirez, E. (2025). When Bad Things Happen to Privileged People: Race, Gender, and What Makes a Crisis in America. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 54(6), 561-562.
Ramirez, E. (Ed.). Latinx migration and the U.S.-Mexico Border: An Anthology. Cognella Publishers. Preliminary edition.
Ramirez, E. (2018). In A. Standlee (Ed.), On the borders of the academy: Challenges and strategies for first generation graduate students and faculty. Syracuse University Press.
Ramirez, E. (2017) Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 10(1), 25-38.
Ramirez, E. & Mirande, A. (2015). In C.S.V. Turner & J.C. Gonzalez (Eds.), Modeling Mentoring Across Race/Ethnicity and Gender: Practices to Cultivate the Next Generation of Diverse Faculty. Routledge Press.
Ramirez, E. (2014). Equity & Excellence in Education, 47(2), 167-186.
Reese, E., Ramirez, E., & Estrada-Correa, V. (2013) Sociological Perspectives,56(1), 97-130.
Ramirez, E. (2013). Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 12(1), 23-36.
Ramirez, E. (2011) “ Journal of Latinos and Education, 10(3), 204-222.
Barajas, M., & Ramirez, E. (2007).Sociological Perspectives, 50(3), 367-392.
Reese, E. & Ramirez, E. (2002). Journal of Poverty, 8(3), 29-62.
Select CHLFSA Newsletter Articles
Ramirez, E. (Fall 2025). "" Noticias y Mas: CHLFSA Newsletter, 6(1): 3-4.
Ramirez, E. (Spring 2024). “." Noticias y Mas: CHLFSA Newsletter, 5(2): 6-7.
Ramirez, E. (Fall 2024). "." Noticias y Mas: CHLFSA Newsletter, 5(1): 6-7.
Ramirez. E. (Spring 2024). "." Noticias y Mas: CHLFSA Newsletter, 4(2): 3-5.
Ramirez, E. (Fall 2023). "." Noticias y Mas: CHLFSA Newsletter, 4(1): 3-4.
Other Select Publications
Contributor to the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
Academic Presentations
Select Conference Presentations
“Chicanx/Latinx Studies at Hispanic Serving Institutions.” Presented at the annual meeting of the California 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.
“Bullying in Academia: A Chicana Feminist Critique and Analysis.” Presented at the annual meeting of the California Sociological Association.
“Ethnic Studies in Higher Education.” Presented at the Northern California Foco of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS) Regional Conference.
“Chicanos/Latinos(as)’ Experiences During Their First Year of Graduate School.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education.
“Analyzing the Campus Racial Climate: Perceptions of Latino Doctoral Students.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
“Becoming Scholars: An Intersectional Analysis of the Chicana/o-Latina/o Doctoral Student Socialization Experience.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association.
“Unequal Socialization: Chicano/Latino(a) Perceptions of the Doctoral Socialization Process.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association.
“Choosing Graduate School: How Inequality Processes Shape Chicano/Latino(a) Students’ Graduate School Destinations.” Presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies.
“Examining the Latino Graduate School Choice Process: Towards an Intersectionality Framework.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems.
“La Colectiva: Feeling, Writing, Being Feministas.” Panel presentation at the annual Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS) Summer Institute.
Leadership and Service
Select Leadership and Service Activities
Member, Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award Selection Committee, American Sociological Association, 2026-
Member, Board of Directors, Sacramento Literacy Foundation, 2025-
Faculty Coordinator, Center on Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ) Research Mentorship Program
Interim Chair, Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (CHLFSA), 2025
Vice Chair, Faculty Policies Committee, 2024-25
Chair, CRISJ's 'Building Justice' Podcast Committee, 2024
Member, Committee on Rights, Liberties, and Social Justice, Pacific Sociological Association, 2022-24.
Director, Chicanx/Latinx Studies Program, Department of Ethnic Studies, 2020-23
Planning Fellow, 起点传媒 Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan, Division of Inclusive Excellence, 2020-21
Member, University Appointment, Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Committee, 2021-24
Member, Board of Directors, Pacific Sociological Association, 2021-23
Chair, Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, 2020-22
President, California Sociological Association, 2018-19
Vice-President (North), California Sociological Association, 2014-17
Chair, Committee on Diversity and Equity (CODE), 2014-17
Council Member, Race, Gender, & Class Section of the American Sociological Association
CRISJ Mentoring Program
In the News
CBS13 News,
Sacramento Literacy Foundation, Dr. Ramirez joins the Board of the Sacramento Literacy Foundation
ABC10,
Hispanics help fuel the region’s economy, but face significant inequities, report shows
CBS13 News,
ABC10,
ABC10,
Sacramento Kings,
PODCASTS
Professional Associations
- American Sociological Association (ASA)
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- California Sociological Association (CSA)
- National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS)
- Pacific Sociological Association (PSA)