Bio


Dr. Ramirez conducts cross-national studies on the role of education in the formation of world society and the influence of world society on educational developments. These studies include topics such as patterns of women's access to higher education, the role of education and science in economic development, the interrelationships among education, citizenship, and human rights, and the impact of globalization on universities. Grants from the National Science Foundation (Sociology Program), the Spencer Foundation, and the Bechtel Initiative on Global Growth and Change have supported both research on education, science, and development and studies of the globalization of human rights and the challenge of human rights education. Ramirez has been a recipient of a Spencer Foundation Mentor Network award and a Fellow at the Center for the Advanced Studies of the Behaviroal Sciences (2006-07).

Recent honors include election into the Sociological Research Assocation (2016) and Honorary Fellow iin the Comparative and International Educaiton Society (2018). In the fall of 2017 Ramirez will be a fellow at the Scandinivian Center for Advanced Studies in Sweden.

Academic Appointments


Honors & Awards


  • Diversifying American Higher Education, Spencer Foundation and Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (Stanford) (2018-19)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Assistant Professor-Professor of Sociology, San Francisco State University (1973 - 1987)
  • Associate Professor of Education and (by courtesy) Sociology, Stanford Graduate School of Education (1987 - 1990)
  • Professor of Education and (by courtesy) Sociology, Stanford Graduate School of Education (1990 - Present)
  • Associate Editor, American Sociological Review (2004 - 2007)
  • Selected Fellow Center, Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences (2006 - 2007)

Professional Education


  • PhD, Stanford University, Sociology (1974)
  • MA, Stanford University, Sociology (1970)
  • BA, De La Salle University, Social Science (1966)

Research Interests


  • Higher Education
  • International and Comparative Education
  • Leadership and Organization
  • Sociology

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


Globalization and impact of human rights regime;rise of human rights education and analysis of civics, history, and social studies textbooks; transformations in the status of women in society and in higher education; universities as institutions and organizations;education, science and development

Projects


  • Globalization, Citizenship, and Education: A Cross-National Study of Curricula

    Major Grant "Globalization, Citizenship, and Education: A Cross-National Study of Curricula, 1955-2005" (with J. Meyer and C. Wotipka) 2010-13 $263,000

    Location

    United States

  • Invited lectures on World Society and Human Rights Developments, Geroge Ekcert Institute and Humboldt University

    Location

    Braunschweig and California

  • Universities in Crisis, Instituto de la Empresa

    "Universities in Crisis" Invited presentation at the Conference on Rethinking Higher Education

    Location

    Segovia, Spain

  • Portraits of Citizenship, State, and Society inn School Textbooks Around the World, School of Education at Albany University (2010)

    "Portraits of Citizenship, State, and Society inn School Textbooks Around the World" Invited lecture

    Location

    United States

  • Comparing Universities: The Experience and Perspective of American Universities, Sabanci University (2009)

    "Comparing Universities: The Experience and Perspective of American Universities" Invited Address at the International Conference on Changing Universities: Governance, Relevance, and Performance”

    Location

    Turkey

  • Invited Keynote address at the International Conference on Multicultural Education, Hanyang University (2009)

    Location

    Korea

  • World Society and The Socially Embedded University, Yonsei University (2009)

    "World Society and The Socially Embedded University" Department of Public Administration

    Location

    South Korea

  • Globalization, Citizenship, and Education (2008)

    "Globalization, Citizenship, and Education" Keynote Address at the first annual meetings of the Peruvian Society for Educational Research

    Location

    Arequipa, Peru

  • Plenary Lecture at the International Standing Committee in the History of Education, Rutgers University (2008)

    Location

    United States

2023-24 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • Women's participation and challenges to the liberal script: A global perspective INTERNATIONAL SOCIOLOGY Lerch, J. C., Schofer, E., Frank, D., Longhofer, W., Ramirez, F. O., Wotipka, C., Velasco, K. 2021
  • The status and agency of children in school textbooks, 1970–2012: a cross-national analysis Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education Wotipka, C. M., Svec, J., Yiu, L., Ramirez, F. O. 2021
  • Legitimacy, stratification, and internationalization in global higher education: the case of the International Association of Universities TERTIARY EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT Zapp, M., Jungblut, J., Ramirez, F. O. 2020
  • The Societal Consequences of Higher Education SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION Schofer, E., Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 2020
  • Reputation management by Chinese universities: Primary profile and comparative features PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Christensen, T., Gavrila, S., Ma, L., Ramirez, F. O. 2020

    View details for DOI 10.1111/padm.12679

    View details for Web of Science ID 000540293200001

  • Beyond internationalisation and isomorphism - the construction of a global higher education regime COMPARATIVE EDUCATION Zapp, M., Ramirez, F. O. 2019
  • IS ENGINEERING HARDER TO CRACK THAN SCIENCE? A CROSS-NATIONAL ANALYSIS OF WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN MALE-DOMINATED FIELDS OF STUDY IN HIGHER EDUCATION ANNUAL REVIEW OF COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION 2018 Kwak, N., Ramirez, F. O., Wiseman, A. W. 2019; 37: 159–83
  • International Tests, National Assessments, and Educational Development (1970-2012) COMPARATIVE EDUCATION REVIEW Ramirez, F. O., Schofer, E., Meyer, J. W. 2018; 62 (3): 344–64

    View details for DOI 10.1086/698326

    View details for Web of Science ID 000438780000003

  • TOWARD POST-NATIONAL SOCIETIES AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP ROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION RESEARCH IN ASIA PACIFIC Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W., Cha, Y. K., Ham, S. H., Lee, M. 2018: 51–65
  • Wither the Nation-State? A Comparative Analysis of Nationalism in Textbooks SOCIAL FORCES Lerch, J. C., Russell, S., Ramirez, F. O. 2017; 96 (1): 153–79

    View details for DOI 10.1093/sf/sox049

    View details for Web of Science ID 000409194400023

  • The rise of individual agency in conceptions of society: Textbooks worldwide, 1950-2011 INTERNATIONAL SOCIOLOGY Lerch, J., Bromley, P., Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 2017; 32 (1): 38-60
  • Wither the Nation-State? A Comparative Analysis of Nationalism in Textbooks Social Forces Lerch, J. C., Russell, G., Ramirez, F. O. 2017; 96 (1): 153-180
  • The rise of individual agency in conceptions of society: Textbooks worldwide, 1950–2011 International Sociology Lerch, J., Bromley, P., Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 2017; 32 (1): 38-60
  • American higher education: To be international, entrepreneurial, and diverse Internationalizing higher education in korea: challenges and opportunities in comparative perspective. Stanford: Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Center Ramirez, F. 2016
  • THE VALUE IN COMPARING ORGANIZATIONAL FIELDS AND FORMS TOWARDS A COMPARATIVE INSTITUTIONALISM: FORMS, DYNAMICS AND LOGICS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATIONAL FIELDS OF HEALTH CARE AND HIGHER EDUCATION Pinheiro, R., Geschwind, L., Ramirez, F. O., Vrangbk, K., Pinheiro, R., Geschwind, L., Ramirez, F. O., Vrangbaek, K. 2016; 45: 9-32
  • HIGHER EDUCATION AND HEALTH ORGANIZATIONAL FIELDS IN THE AGE OF "WORLD CLASS" AND "BEST PRACTICES" TOWARDS A COMPARATIVE INSTITUTIONALISM: FORMS, DYNAMICS AND LOGICS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATIONAL FIELDS OF HEALTH CARE AND HIGHER EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O., Byrkjeflot, H., Pinheiro, R., Pinheiro, R., Geschwind, L., Ramirez, F. O., Vrangbaek, K. 2016; 45: 35-57
  • World Society and the Globalization of Educational Policy HANDBOOK OF GLOBAL EDUCATION POLICY Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W., Lerch, J., Mundy, K., Green, A., Lingard, B., Verger, A. 2016: 43-63
  • EDUCATION, GENDER, AND DEVELOPMENT LEADERS IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION: INTELLECTUAL SELF-PORTRAITS Ramirez, F. O., Sadovnik, A. R., Coughlan, R. W. 2016; 9: 171-184
  • Higher education and health organizational fields in the age of “world class” and “best practices” Towards a comparative institutionalism: Forms, dynamics and logics across the organizational fields of health care and higher education Ramirez, F. O., Byrkjeflot, H., Pinheiro, R. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 2016: 35–57
  • World society and the globalization of educational policy The handbook of global education policy Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W., Lerch, J. 2016: 43-63
  • The Children of Immigrants at School: A Comparative Look at Integration in the United States and Western Europe (Book Review) CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY-A JOURNAL OF REVIEWS Book Review Authored by: Ramirez, F. O. 2015; 44 (3): 333-335
  • Who Thinks and Behaves According to Human Rights?: Evidence from the Korean National Human Rights Survey KOREA OBSERVER Koo, J., Cheong, B., Ramirez, F. O. 2015; 46 (1): 53-87
  • Women’s enrollments in STEM in higher education: cross-national trends, 1970–2010 Advancing women in science Ramirez, F. O., Kwak, N. Springer. 2015: 9–49
  • In pursuit of excellence? Discursive patterns in European higher education research HIGHER EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O., Tiplic, D. 2014; 67 (4): 439-455
  • In pursuit of excellence? Discursive patterns in European higher education research Higher Education Ramirez, F. O., Tiplic, D. 2014; 67 (4): 439-455
  • Conditional Decoupling: Assessing the Impact of National Human Rights Institutions, 1981 to 2004 AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW Cole, W. M., Ramirez, F. O. 2013; 78 (4): 702-725
  • Educations in Ethnic Violence: Identity, Educational Bubbles, and Resource Mobilization (Book Review) AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY Book Review Authored by: Ramirez, F. O. 2013; 119 (1): 272-273

    View details for DOI 10.1086/670353

    View details for Web of Science ID 000326699500016

  • The formalization of the university: rules, roots, and routes HIGHER EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O., Christensen, T. 2013; 65 (6): 695-708
  • Conditional decoupling: Assessing the impact of national human rights institutions, 1981 to 2004 American Sociological Review Cole, W. M., Ramirez, F. O. 2013; 78 (4): 702-725
  • The formalization of the university: Rules, roots, and routes Higher Education Ramirez, F. O., Christensen, T. 2013; 65 (6): 695-708
  • The world society perspective: concepts, assumptions, and strategies COMPARATIVE EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O. 2012; 48 (4): 423-439
  • The world society perspective: Concepts, assumptions, and strategies Comparative Education Ramirez, F. O. 2012; 48 (4): 423-439
  • Toward Post-National Societies and Global Citizenship MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION REVIEW Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 2012; 4 (1): 1–28
  • From citizenship to human rights to human rights education Making human rights intelligible Ramirez, F. O., Moon, R. 2012: 191-214
  • Student-Centeredness in Social Science Textbooks, 1970-2008: A Cross-National Study SOCIAL FORCES Bromley, P., Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O. 2011; 90 (2): 547-570

    View details for DOI 10.1093/sf/sor004

    View details for Web of Science ID 000300108800010

  • The Worldwide Spread of Environmental Discourse in Social Studies, History, and Civics Textbooks, 1970-2008 COMPARATIVE EDUCATION REVIEW Bromley, P., Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O. 2011; 55 (4): 517-545

    View details for DOI 10.1086/660797

    View details for Web of Science ID 000296057900002

  • Student-centeredness in social science textbooks, 1970-2008: A cross-national study Social Forces Bromley, P., Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O. 2011; 90 (2): 547-570
  • Human Rights in Social Science Textbooks: Cross-national Analyses, 1970-2008 SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION Meyer, J. W., Bromley, P., Ramirez, F. O. 2010; 83 (2): 111-134
  • Accounting for excellence: Transforming universities into organizational actors Higher education, policy, and the global competition phenomenon Ramirez, F. O. Springer. 2010: 43–58
  • Accounting for Excellence: Transforming Universities into Organizational Actors HIGHER EDUCATION, POLICY, AND THE GLOBAL COMPETITION PHENOMENON Ramirez, F. O., Portnoi, L. M., Rust, V. D., Bagley, S. S. 2010: 43-58
  • The Worldwide Spread of Environmental Discourse in Social Science Textbooks, 1970–2008: Cross-National Patterns and Hierarchical Linear Models unpublished paper School of Education/Department of Sociology, Stanford University Bromley, P., Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O. 2010
  • Human rights in social science textbooks: Cross-national analyses, 1970–2008 Sociology of Education Meyer, J. W., Bromley, P., Ramirez, F. O. 2010; 83 (2): 111-134
  • UNESCO and the Associated Schools Project: Symbolic Affirmation of World Community, International Understanding, and Human Rights SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION Suarez, D. F., Ramirez, F. O., Koo, J. 2009; 82 (3): 197-216
  • National Incorporation of Global Human Rights: Worldwide Expansion of National Human Rights Institutions, 1966-2004 SOCIAL FORCES Koo, J., Ramirez, F. O. 2009; 87 (3): 1321-1353
  • The valorization of humanity and diversity Multicultural Education Review Ramirez, F. O., Bromley, P., Russell, S. G. 2009; 1 (1): 29-54
  • Globalization, citizenship, and education: the rise and spread of cosmopolitan, multicultural, and individual empowerment frames REVISTA PERUANA DE INVESTIGACION EDUCATIVA Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W., Wotipka, C. 2009; 1 (1): 163–80
  • SHIFTING GENDER EFFECTS: OPPORTUNITY STRUCTURES, INSTITUTIONALIZED MASS SCHOOLING, AND CROSS-NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS GENDER, EQUALITY AND EDUCATION FROM INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES Wiseman, A. W., Baker, D. P., Riegle-Crumb, C., Ramirez, F. O., Baker, D. P., Wiseman, A. W. 2009; 10: 395-422
  • The Valorization of Humanity and Diversity MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION REVIEW Ramirez, F. O., Bromley, P., Russell, S. 2009; 1 (1): 29-54
  • UNESCO and Associated Schools: The Symbolic Affirmation of World Community and Human Rights Sociology of Education Suarz, D., Ramirez, F., Woo-Koo, J. 2009
  • National incorporation of global human rights: Worldwide expansion of national human rights institutions, 1966–2004 Social Forces Koo, J., Ramirez, F. O. 2009; 87 (3): 1321-1353
  • Globalization, citizenship, and education: The rise and spread of cosmopolitan, multicultural, and individual empowerment frames Peruvian Education Review Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W., Wotipka, C. M. 2009; 1: 163-180
  • WOMEN'S STUDIES AS A GLOBAL INNOVATION WORLDWIDE TRANSFORMATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION Wotipka, C., Ramirez, F. O., Baker, D. P., Wiseman, A. W. 2008; 9: 89–110
  • The Worldwide Rise of Human Rights Education SCHOOL KNOWLEDGE IN COMPARATIVE AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Ramirez, F. O., Suarez, D., Meyer, J. W., Benavot, A., Braslavsky, C. 2007; 18: 35–52
  • World society and human rights: an event history analysis of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women GLOBAL DIFFUSION OF MARKETS AND DEMOCRACY Wotipka, C., Ramirez, F. O., Simmons, B. A., Dobbin, F., Garrett, G. 2007: 303–43
  • Student achievement and national economic growth AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O., Luo, X., Schofer, E., Meyer, J. W. 2006; 113 (1): 1-29
  • Beyond achievement and attainment studies - revitalizing a comparative sociology of education COMPARATIVE EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O. 2006; 42 (3): 431-449
  • The rationalization of universities TRANSNATIONAL GOVERNANCE: INSTITUTIONAL DYNAMICS OF REGULATION Ramirez, F. O., Djelic, M. L., SahlinAndersson, K. 2006: 225-244
  • FROM CITIZEN TO PERSON? RETHINKING EDUCATION AS INCORPORATION IMPACT OF COMPARATIVE EDUCATION RESEARCH ON INSTITUTIONAL THEORY Ramirez, F. O., Baker, D. P., Wiseman, A. W. 2006; 7: 367-387
  • TOWARD A CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE WORLD? LOCAL MEANINGS, GLOBAL SCHOOLING: ANTHROPOLOGY AND WORLD CULTURE THEORY Ramirez, F. O., AndersonLevitt, K. 2003: 239-254
  • Slowly but surely? The global expansion of women's participation in science and engineering fields of study, 1972-92 SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O., Wotlpka, C. M. 2001; 74 (3): 231-251
  • The effects of science on national economic development, 1970 to 1990 AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW Schofer, E., Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 2000; 65 (6): 866-887
  • What counts as history: A cross-national and longitudinal study of university curricula 9th World Congress of Comparative Education Frank, D. J., Wong, S. Y., Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O. UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 2000: 29–53
  • The changing logic of political citizenship: Cross-national acquisition of women's suffrage rights, 1890 to 1990 AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW Ramirez, F. O., Soysal, Y., Shanahan, S. 1997; 62 (5): 735-745
  • World society and the nation-state AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY Meyer, J. W., Boli, J., Thomas, G. M., Ramirez, F. O. 1997; 103 (1): 144-181
  • From women's suffrage to reproduction rights? Cross-national considerations INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE SOCIOLOGY Ramirez, F. O., McEneaney, E. H. 1997; 38 (1-2): 6-24

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997XL26100002

    View details for PubMedID 11658247

  • WORLD EXPANSION OF MASS EDUCATION, 1870-1980 1989 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOC Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O., SOYSAL, Y. N. AMER SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOC. 1992: 128–49
  • INSTITUTIONS AND INTERESTS - COMMENT SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION Ramirez, F. O. 1990; 63 (2): 142-144
  • EXPLAINING THE ORIGINS AND EXPANSION OF MASS EDUCATION COMPARATIVE EDUCATION REVIEW Boli, J., Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 1985; 29 (2): 145-170
  • COMPARATIVE EDUCATION - THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE MODERN WORLD SYSTEM ANNUAL REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY Ramirez, F. O., Meyer, J. W. 1980; 6: 369-399
  • WORLD EDUCATIONAL REVOLUTION, 1950-1970 SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION Meyer, J. W., Rubinson, R., Ramirez, F. O., BOLIBENNETT, J. 1977; 50 (4): 242-258
  • FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN OCCUPATIONAL SYSTEM - COMPARATIVE INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS SOCIAL PROBLEMS Weiss, J. A., Ramirez, F. O., Tracy, T. 1976; 23 (5): 593-608