Faculty Bio

Dr. Elvia Ramirez received her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of California, Riverside. Her research interests include doctoral (Ph.D.) education, sociology of education, immigration, intersectional feminisms, and Latinx/Latiné health. Her research has been published in Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Sociological Perspectives, Journal of Poverty, Journal of Latinos and Education, Equity & Excellence in Education, and Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. 

Dr. Ramirez served as the 2018-19 President of the California Sociological Association. She currently serves as Mentoring Coordinator for the Center on Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ) and as Historian for the Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (CHLFSA). 

An award-winning teacher, Dr. Ramirez greatly enjoys working with and mentoring students. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award at UC Riverside and the 2020-21 Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies at Sac State. 

Originally from Southern California, Dr. Ramirez is a proud first-generation college graduate. Her family roots are in Jalisco and Guanajuato, MX. 

Selected Publications

Ramirez, E. (Ed.) (2020). 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

• Member, Board of Directors, Pacific Sociological Association, 2021-23
• Co-Chair, Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, Sacramento State, 2020-22
• Mentoring Coordinator, Center on Race, Immigration, and Social Justice (CRISJ), Sacramento State
• Planning Fellow, Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan, Division of Inclusive Excellence, Sacramento State, 2020-21
• Director, Chicanx/Latinx Studies Program, Sacramento State, 2020-2023
• 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

• Outstanding Faculty Award for University Service, College of Social Sciences and 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 and Interdisciplinary Studies, Sacramento State, 2020-21
• Women of Influence Award (Faculty), Sacramento State, 2020-21
• Provost’s Research Incentive Fund Award, Sacramento State
• American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Faculty Fellowship, 2012
• Institute for Social Research Faculty Research Fellowship, Sacramento State, 2009-10
• University of California All Campus Consortium on Research for Diversity (UC ACCORD) Dissertation Fellowship
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year Award, University of California, Riverside

Selected Media Interviews & Presentations

Interview with CBS News Sacramento, Annual State of Hispanics Forum

Latinx Heritage Month, Sacramento Kings

Interview with ABC10 TV station, History of Cinco de Mayo

Interview with ABC10 TV station, Hispanic Heritage Month

Languages

English and Spanish (native fluency)

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. This program aims to provide students with access to research experience, faculty mentorship, and preparation for graduate school. See links below for more information:

• CRISJ website
• CRISJ Research Mentorship Program

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Chicanx/Latinx Studies

The Department of Ethnic Studies offers a concentration in Chicanx/Latinx Studies for students majoring in Ethnic Studies. We also offer a Minor in Chicanx/Latinx Studies. See links below for more information:

• Minor in Chicanx/Latinx Studies
• B.A. in Ethnic Studies (concentration in Chicanx/Latinx Studies)