Dr. Amber Ramirez
Amber Ramirez began her career at UMass Global in 2018. She earned both her BSW and MSW degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno. She also earned her Doctorate in Education – Organizational Leadership from UMass Global. Additionally, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of California. Amber Ramirez has experience in providing services at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. At the micro level, her clinical experience consists of providing therapeutic services to children, women, and families. These experiences were primarily focused on children with problem behaviors, youth in the juvenile justice systems and women facing issues of domestic/partner violence and sexual assault. She has spent most of her career focused more on the mezzo and macro work affecting change at community and organizational levels. She has extensive experience in youth development field within non-profits, county, and education settings. She has held multiple leadership positions focusing on program management, development, assessments, and evaluation. Her experience extends to fund development to include grant writing, proposal development, fundraising, and donor solicitation. Amber Ramirez started her higher education career with the University of Southern California (USC), Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. During her six years at USC, she taught MSW field courses and coordinated the second-year placement of MSW students. Furthermore, in her start at UMass Global she continued with teaching field courses and placing MSW students across the nation. Currently at UMass Global she teaches in the Master of Social Work program and is the School Social Work Program Director.
Education History
2023 - Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, University of Massachusetts (UMass) Global
Dissertation: “A phenomenological study exploring conflict transformational strategies used by exemplar
student support service leaders in K-12 public education to achieve common ground and breakthrough
results”
2005 - Master of Social Work, University of Nevada, Reno
Comprehensive Project: “Lucha para mi, lucha de mis padres: The experiences of Latino adolescents raised by Latino immigrant parents”
2004 - Bachelor of Social Work and Minor in Spanish Language, University of Nevada, Reno
Scholarly Activities
2024 - Ramirez, A. J.
Poster Presentation: "Leading student support service department through conflict to achieve breakthrough results"
27th Annual National School Social Work Conference
2023 - Ramirez, A. J.
Dissertation: "A phenomenological study exploring conflict transformational strategies used by exemplar student support serve leaders in k-12 public education to achieve common ground and breakthrough results”
UMass Global ScholarWorks
2022 - Ramirez, A. J., Meza, J., Rangel, J., Yepez, H.
Conference Panel Presentation: "Centering social work and JEDI best practices through interdisciplinary collaboration"
Council on Social Work Education Annual APM Conference
Professional Experience
2011 - Independent Consultant
Consulting - Greater Los Angeles Area, CA
Provide field instruction supervision for MSW interns. Provide trainings pertaining to mental health, case management, fund development, and youth development. Conduct needs assessments, SWOT analysis, grant writing, and guidance on program development and evaluation.
2010 - 2011 - Director of Development and Mental Health Outpatient Therapist
Community Family Guidance Center - Cerritos, CA
Oversight of Development Department, grants development, fund development, board development and agency communications. Per Diem Mental Health Outpatient Therapist in providing individual and family therapy to youth in school-based settings, conducted biopsychosocial assessments and maintained Medi-Cal client records.
2006 - 2011 - Project Consultant
Orange County Department of Education - Costa Mesa, CA
Held multiple positions to include Project Assistant, Project Consultant and Independent Contractor. Provided training and development activities to youth and supervising adults within schools and community-based organizations around youth development, leadership, and substance abuse prevention and intervention. Provided program management and oversight of programs across Orange County, CA.
Education History
2023 - Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, University of Massachusetts (UMass) Global
Dissertation: “A phenomenological study exploring conflict transformational strategies used by exemplar
student support service leaders in K-12 public education to achieve common ground and breakthrough
results”
2005 - Master of Social Work, University of Nevada, Reno
Comprehensive Project: “Lucha para mi, lucha de mis padres: The experiences of Latino adolescents raised by Latino immigrant parents”
2004 - Bachelor of Social Work and Minor in Spanish Language, University of Nevada, Reno
Scholarly Activities
2024 - Ramirez, A. J.
Poster Presentation: "Leading student support service department through conflict to achieve breakthrough results"
27th Annual National School Social Work Conference
2023 - Ramirez, A. J.
Dissertation: "A phenomenological study exploring conflict transformational strategies used by exemplar student support serve leaders in k-12 public education to achieve common ground and breakthrough results”
UMass Global ScholarWorks
2022 - Ramirez, A. J., Meza, J., Rangel, J., Yepez, H.
Conference Panel Presentation: "Centering social work and JEDI best practices through interdisciplinary collaboration"
Council on Social Work Education Annual APM Conference
Professional Experience
2011 - Independent Consultant
Consulting - Greater Los Angeles Area, CA
Provide field instruction supervision for MSW interns. Provide trainings pertaining to mental health, case management, fund development, and youth development. Conduct needs assessments, SWOT analysis, grant writing, and guidance on program development and evaluation.
2010 - 2011 - Director of Development and Mental Health Outpatient Therapist
Community Family Guidance Center - Cerritos, CA
Oversight of Development Department, grants development, fund development, board development and agency communications. Per Diem Mental Health Outpatient Therapist in providing individual and family therapy to youth in school-based settings, conducted biopsychosocial assessments and maintained Medi-Cal client records.
2006 - 2011 - Project Consultant
Orange County Department of Education - Costa Mesa, CA
Held multiple positions to include Project Assistant, Project Consultant and Independent Contractor. Provided training and development activities to youth and supervising adults within schools and community-based organizations around youth development, leadership, and substance abuse prevention and intervention. Provided program management and oversight of programs across Orange County, CA.
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