James Ramos, MBA, was elected to and sworn in as Third District Supervisor of San Bernardino County in 2012. From 2005-2012, the Supervisor was a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees, where he served as president and was the first Native American to be elected to the board. In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Ramos to the California State Native American Heritage Commission where he currently serves as chairman. Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ramos in 2011 to the prestigious State Board of Education becoming the First Native American appointed in the history of California. Ramos is also the immediate past Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
Ramos was born and raised on the San Manuel Indian Reservation where he and his siblings lived in one of three mobile homes along Victoria Ave. At an early age, he developed a strong work ethic through his various positions at local fast food restaurants such as Jack in the Box and Long John Silvers as well as at the San Bernardino City School District. Ramos is a successful entrepreneur, operating two restaurants in the San Bernardino region. He and his wife of 24 years, Terri are the proud parents of four children.
Ramos is a proven civic leader and has served on numerous boards and organizations promoting business, economic and social opportunities in the greater San Bernardino area, including the San Bernardino County Museum Association, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation, Foundation Board of Governors, California State University San Bernardino, Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, St. Bernadine Medical Center Foundation, San Bernardino Valley College Foundation, Crafton Hills College Foundation, Arrowhead United Way, and KVCR (Public Television) Foundation for Education.
Through his work as a civic leader, Ramos received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Northern Arizona University (2009), and was awarded the “Keeper of the Light Award” for his distinguished contributions to the Inland Empire education community. He was recognized by the San Bernardino Sun Newspaper as one of ten people “Who Made a Difference in 2000,” and earned the 2002 Diversity Award from California State University San Bernardino.
Ramos is a past recipient of the Congressional Community Leadership Award (2003) and in December 2010 was recognized by the California League of High Schools for his support of the education community of Region 10.
Ramos earned his associate’s degree at Victor Valley Community College, his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from California State University, San Bernardino, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Redlands.
Mr. Ramos has a deep commitment to the preservation of California Indian culture. He is co-founder of the San Manuel Band’s Cultural Awareness Program, and serves as director of the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference held annually at California State University, San Bernardino.
