Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders: Heather Van Vugt Ramirez

Class of 2023

Boards: United Performing Arts Fund, Acts Housing

An adjunct professor with Marquette University Law School, Heather Ramirez has served on several Milwaukee-area boards that work to improve core services for underserved parts of the community. These include Meta House, Legal Action of Wisconsin and Acts Housing, where she will soon serve as board chair.

“She has also shared her appreciation for arts education by serving as a founding member of the United Performing Arts Fund’s Notable Women program, joining the UPAF Board in 2018 and now chairing UPAF’s governance committee,” said Patrick Rath, president and CEO of UPAF.

“Heather was the first individual to raise her hand for UPAF’s Positioning Task Force, which led the way for doubling UPAF’s annual support to a record 47 regional performing arts organizations and increasing the count of BIPOC-serving arts organizations funded to more than 20% of the total. Heather continues to ensure access for all in whatever she does and is changing the fabric of our community where all are seen and represented,” Rath said.