Lissa Ramirez-Stapleton

Dr. Lissa Ramirez-Stapleton serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at California State University, Fullerton. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from Iowa State University (2014), an M.S.E. from the University of Dayton (2006), and a B.S. in Social Work from Wright State University. Her work focuses on the intersection of race, gender, and Deaf experiences in higher education, with particular emphasis on equity, disability justice, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Key research contributions include examining audism in academic settings, restorative justice practices, and cultural wealth frameworks for Deaf students. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges critical race theory, disability studies, and social justice advocacy. Notable publications include analyses of microaggressions faced by Black Deaf students and critiques of color-evasiveness in disability scholarship.

Ramirez-Stapleton has received prestigious awards such as the 2015 NASPA Dissertation Award and the 2018 Ford Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her research has been published in journals like New Directions in Student Services, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, and Journal Committed to Social Change on Race and Ethnicity. She actively contributes to special issues on disability justice and co-edits works addressing systemic inequities in education.

Her career includes roles as a Community Director in Residence Life and Spirituality Specialist for Semester at Sea, reflecting her commitment to residential education and international service. She advocates for inclusive policies and has advised on improving educational access for marginalized communities through intersectional frameworks.