Leighann Ramirez

Leighann Ramirez (She/Her/Ella) received her J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law and her M.S.W. from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. During law school, she was the recipient of the Monique E. Edmin Award for her outstanding commitment to community service. She was also awarded the Martin A. Feinrider Award, was an AmeriCorps JD Fellow, and NY Bar Foundation Catalyst Fellow. During law school, Leighann was a Student Attorney with the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project doing upstate NYIFUP and with the U.S.-Mexico Border Clinic, where she prepared women and children, asylum seekers, for their credible fear interviews in Dilley, TX. Leighann also interned with Ayuda in D.C., UnLocal, Inc., Brooklyn Defender Services, and the Bronx Defenders. In addition, she was the Submissions Editor for the Buffalo Human Rights Law Review, President of the Latin American Law Student Association, and National Vice-Chair of the National Latina/o Law Student Association. 

Through her MSW, Leighann focused on interventions with children exposed to abuse and neglect within the foster care system and immigration detention. She was a Case Manager at the International Institute of Buffalo, where she helped resettled refugees and SIVs. Prior to graduate school, Leighann worked at Make the Road NY and taught at Queens International High School. She graduated Cum Laude from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a B.A. in Humanities and Justice, and minor in Philosophy and Latin American Latina/o Studies.