Chief Diversity Officer Accepts Position at Grinnell College

Published: June 22, 2020 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Dr. Schvalla Rivera, Assistant to the President for Diversity and Inclusion, announced today that she has accepted a new position on the Senior Leadership Team at Grinnell College and will be leaving Southern Utah University at the end of this month.

“I appreciate Dr. Rivera’s leadership and expertise,” said SUU President Scott L Wyatt. “She was SUU’s first Chief Diversity Officer and brought a vast knowledge and deep understanding of diversity and inclusion to our campus. I am grateful for the talents she shared with us and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Dr. Rivera served SUU since early 2018 as its first Chief Diversity Officer. In this role she developed key relationships with offices and departments across campus in order to advance SUU’s diversity and inclusion efforts. During her time at SUU, she established SUU’s first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan and implemented several diversity trainings for new and current employees. She created diversity and equity opportunities and many educational resources for the campus community.

“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve SUU,” said Dr. Rivera. “It has been my privilege to work with the students, faculty and staff. I hope that SUU continues to strive toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion.”

“Working with Dr. Rivera was one of the greatest joys I’ve had at SUU,” said Nouman Kante SUU student body president. “Her hard work and dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion were an important part of the T-Bird community. Her positive influence and leadership did not only serve the students of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, but the enter student body. It’s really hard to say goodbye to such a mother and mentor to many students.”

In her new role, Dr. Rivera will be responsible for advising the President of the College, institutional and strategic planning, oversight of training and faculty hiring, communication and outreach on campus and in the community, teaching and learning for students, faculty, and staff.

Dr. Rivera earned both her M.S. in Political Science and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with specialization in teaching, learning, and leadership from Indiana State University. She is certified in both psychological first aid and Title IX and Civil Rights Investigators. She is also a Certified Diversity Executive, which comes from at least five years of progressive work experience in the field of diversity or HR.
SUU will begin a search for Dr. Rivera’s replacement immediately.

 

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners. We encourage our community members to make observations and inquiries through an intersectional lens. We celebrate diverse approaches and points of view. We believe diversity makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared to compete in a global society. We provide education and programming opportunities that promote understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion. We respect the rights of all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability, sexual orientation, veteran status, immigration status, gender identity or gender expression.

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Tags: Equity and Inclusion

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