Dr. Rivera is an accomplished Indigenous scholar of Zapotec ancestry who has lived most of her adult life on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ Nations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning, as well as two degrees from the University of British Columbia (UBC): a Master’s in Advanced Studies in Architecture and an Interdisciplinary PhD in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning. She has worked to strengthen Indigenous educational pathways, particularly in STEM disciplines, across Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico. 

Throughout her academic and professional roles, Dr. Rivera has upheld the Four R’s of Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, and Responsibility. She has held leadership positions at UBC, Simon Fraser University (SFU), and most recently at ARCH•EDUC Consulting, where she focused on initiatives and partnerships that promote access to higher education for underrepresented students.