Professor Deborah Ramirez has been a transformative force at Northeastern University School of Law since joining the faculty in 1989, dedicating more than three decades to shaping the next generation of lawyers. A Harvard-educated criminal justice scholar and former assistant US attorney, Professor Ramirez brought the full weight of her real-world experience into the classroom, teaching criminal justice courses on race and reform with passion and purpose. Beyond teaching, she has been a tireless advocate for police accountability — testifying before Congress, advising governors and championing innovative initiatives like Justice Bridge to expand access to justice for underserved communities.
Since 2021, Professor Ramirez has served, alongside Professor Margaret Burnham, as the faculty co-director of Northeastern Law’s Center for Law, Equity and Race (CLEAR). In that capacity, she created a scholarship program to provide law students with funded employment opportunities within the state court system. She also nurtured and supported the court’s state-wide, state-funded reentry program, which provides resources and programming for those leaving prison or jail. As part of her current Roadmap project, she is working at the national and state levels to train district attorneys in seeking legal accountability against ICE and other federal law enforcement officers who engage in illegal and unconstitutional policing.
As she steps into retirement, the Northeastern Law community is profoundly grateful to Professor Ramirez for her unwavering commitment to equity, her fearless pursuit of a fairer criminal justice system and the lasting impact she has made on every student fortunate enough to learn from her.
Speakers include:
Kenneth Laughton ’22
Associate, Bernstein Shur
Len Zandrow
Executive Director (retired), Justice Bridge Legal Center
Professor Margaret Burnham
University Distinguished Professor of Law; Director of Reparations and Restorative Justice Initiatives; Director, Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project; Faculty Co-Director, Center for Law, Equity and Race (CLEAR), Northeastern Law
Vincent Lorenti
Executive Director, Massachusetts Probation Service
Sep 30, 2026
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm