Jessica I. Ramirez, Ph.D., is a Chicana Mother, educator, activist and first-generation college student from Oxnard, California. She is an Assistant Professor in Social Work and Chicanx and Latinx studies program. Jessica earned her doctorate from the School of Social Work at the University of Washington. She also completed her undergraduate studies in public health at California State University, Northridge and received a dual Master’s Degree in public health and social work from the University of Michigan.
Growing up in Oxnard, a predominantly Latinx city, Jessica personally experienced and witnessed her family, friends, and community be marginalized by a myriad of social injustices including hyper-policing, under-resourced schools, and underfunded, or nonexistent, mental health support services. Because of these experiences, Jessica became interested in how Communities of Color heal from trauma inflicted by systems of oppression like racism and white supremacy that directly and indirectly impact their overall well-being. Jessica has many years of experience working with and alongside Children, Youth, and Families of Color in various settings—including, community centers, public housing communities, and schools. Her lived experiences greatly inform her scholarship, pedagogy and mentorship. Jessica is committed to mentoring, supporting, and more importantly, adequately preparing aspiring social workers and community leaders to create community-informed interventions and work alongside historically marginalized communities.