Andres A. Ramirez

informal resolution facilitator

Background

Andres Ramirez is a nationally recognized mediator with over 25 years of experience resolving high-stakes, emotionally charged disputes in education, civil rights, and employment. He began his career as a civil rights investigator and mediator with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), investigating discrimination claims across a five-state region: Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona.

In 2016, Andres was appointed OCR’s National Mediation Expert. In that role, he successfully mediated over 1,000 complex disputes involving Title IX, disability accommodations, retaliation, sexual misconduct, racial and employment discrimination, and culturally sensitive matters in educational institutions. Based in Denver, Andres was routinely called to mediate the agency’s most sensitive, high-profile disputes. These cases involved sexual violence, racially hostile environments, Shared Jewish and Muslim ancestry on college campuses, and incidents involving tragic loss of life.

Andres also led the development of OCR’s mediation procedures and trained mediators and investigators across the country.

Now in private practice, Andres continues to serve as a neutral, trauma-informed facilitator for institutions, attorneys, students, advocates, and agencies. Known for his calm and pragmatic approach, he is trusted for his ability to defuse entrenched conflict, building understanding, and guide parties toward sustainable, voluntary agreements. Andres is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Andres is a listed consultant and trainer for the Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) and serves as a national trainer to the Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE), where he trains mediators for State Educational Agencies.

Andres is a certified mediator and a professional member of the Mediation Association of Colorado.

Trainings

• Lead trainer, national mediation trainings for the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

• Mediation training to special education mediators, New Mexico Department of Education (via TAESE)

Education

• M.A., University of New Mexico, 1998

• B.A., Barry University, 1991

Speaking Engagements

As part of OCR, Andres has presented to dozens of seminars, presentations, K-12 and higher education institutions, national advocacy organizations, and local community groups on Section 504, Title II, Title VI, and Title IX. Additional speaking engagements include:

• • Lessons from 1,00 Mediations, Beverly Hills Bar CLE, May 2025

  • From Conflict to Closure, Philadelphia Bar CLE, August 2025

  • From Litigation to Listening: Rethinking Attorney Mindsets in Mediation, Colorado Bar CLE, October 2025