Lorna Rivera

Lorna Rivera is Professor of Higher Education in the Leadership in Education Department at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy. She is a leading scholar in Latino Studies, higher education equity, and community-engaged research.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Sociology from Northeastern University, an M.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Gender Studies from the same institution, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from DePaul University, along with a teaching license in Illinois.

Dr. Rivera's research centers on the education of Latinx students, adult literacy, the social determinants of health, and immigrant community development. Her work bridges sociology, education, and public policy, with a strong emphasis on equity and community empowerment. She has led major research initiatives on health literacy, Latinx student success, and housing stability.

Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on Latino communities in Massachusetts, examining topics such as transfer pathways, labor market participation, small business sustainability, and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These works demonstrate a deep commitment to applied, policy-relevant scholarship that addresses structural inequities.

Among her honors are the Cyril O. Houle Award for Outstanding Literature, recognition as one of the '50 Most Influential People of Color in Higher Education,' the Latinx Amplifier Award, and the Talented and Gifted Latino Champion Award. She was inducted as an Honorary Member of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society in 2019.

Dr. Rivera has secured significant funding from the CDC, EPA, Office of Minority Health, and major foundations. She leads the Latinx Student Success Initiative with Bunker Hill Community College and manages the Talented & Gifted (TAG) Latino and Proyecto Alerta programs, which serve bilingual Latinx students in Boston Public Schools. She also serves on multiple boards, including the Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation and the Inter-University Programs on Latino Research.

She leads research teams focused on community health, educational equity, and immigrant organizing. Her current projects include federally funded studies on community health workers, environmental health risks in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and equitable responses to public health crises.