HECTOR RIVERA

Hector Rivera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University’s College of Education and Human Development. His research focuses on bilingual education, educational resilience, classroom learning environments, and community development, particularly for English Language Learners (ELLs). He has advised doctoral students such as Bizhu He and Lileana Rios-Ledezma. His work bridges sociocultural perspectives with practical interventions to support underrepresented groups, including refugees and minority students. Awards include the 2015 Outstanding New Faculty Award from CEHD.

Key research initiatives include the Eco-Resilience NPD program (2016-2021), funded by the US Department of Education, aimed at connecting multiple environments to support ELL success. Other projects address teacher performance evaluation and STEM pathways for Hispanics. Rivera has held leadership roles like Chair of the Climate Committee in EPSY (2016) and Co-Chair of the NABE Special Interest Group (2015).

Publications span topics like parental involvement in bilingual education, teacher empowerment, and the impact of learning environments on student resilience. His work often emphasizes culturally responsive practices and systemic equity in education.