When The Posse Foundation was founded in 1989, Ramirez herself was one of the students in the very first Posse, whose members attended Vanderbilt University. She is also the first Posse Scholar to receive a doctorate. The daughter of Dominican immigrants, Ramirez is the first person in her family to go to college as well.

Ramirez is currently an adjunct assistant professor at New York University and the Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at New School University, where she teaches courses focused on research methods, leadership development, management and organizational behavior and organizational change. She has served as an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University and George Mason University. As a clinical psychologist, she has worked extensively with multicultural populations struggling with trauma including sexual abuse, political torture, hate crimes, and domestic violence. She is also a member of the board of directors of Henry Street Settlement in New York City.