Guest Profile

Dr. Carmen Rivera

Dr.Carmen Rivera currently serves as an Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and co-chair of the Student Affairs in Higher Education Master’s program at Colorado State University (CSU). One of the first things she tells folks is that she is from northern New Mexico because where she’s from is fundamental to who she is. As a first-generation college student, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mexican American Studies and Spanish from the University of Northern Colorado. She then went on to earn her Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education as well as her PhD in Higher Education Leadership from CSU. Her higher education career began when she worked for the Upward Bound program. She worked in TRiO programs for over 13 years then worked in international education as the Director of Student Experience at INTO CSU for several years. Additionally, she’s a faculty member for the Social Justice Training Institute and a consultant in the areas of social justice and leadership. One of her most important roles is raising her two super awesome sons with her super awesome wife. She loves 90’s R&B, traveling, cooking, and is obsessed with all things Frida Kahlo.