SUU appoints Dr. Schvalla Rivera new assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion
Southern Utah University announced Dr. Schvalla Rivera as the new assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion. Previously, Rivera was the Dean of Students at Western Nebraska Community College.
“I am so very happy to be here at SUU,” said Dr. Rivera. “I look forward to working with campus and community partners to increase our understanding of diversity and inclusion. I believe that conversation is an important step in learning about new people, places and things. We must engage with one another, so that we can learn from one another. Only then can we grow together.”
The assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion is a new position developed to implement diversity and equity opportunities across all aspects on campus. Rivera will function as a subject-matter expert on institutional diversity and inclusion as it relates to governance, administrative policies, and federal and state regulations. Other responsibilities include working with enrollment management to recruit and admit students with diverse backgrounds, collaborating with human resources to identify and hire a diverse pool of applicants and institute ongoing diversity trainings for new and current employees, and developing community outreach strategies that focus on building positive relationships between the community and underrepresented populations.
“I am thrilled that Schvalla has agreed to join our team and very much look forward to working closely with her to further refine and improve our campus climate, culture, and overall experience,” said Dr. Jared Tippets, vice president for student affairs.
Rivera earned a master’s degree 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 human resources.
“Diversity is about recognizing all of the wonderful things that make us all unique,” said Rivera. “Inclusion is the process of leveraging those differences in a productive and equitable manner. I do not see my work as political, although political ideologies are encompassed in diversity. My role is to promote an environment that is welcoming to all. This is essential as the world becomes more globally connected. We must learn how to leverage our greatest resource, which is our human capital. In America, we are blessed to have people from around the world with diverse experiences who live, learn, and work together. This diversity of thoughts and experiences is why American ingenuity has been highly prized. Our differences make us better, stronger, greater.”
“Improving diversity and inclusion promotes social justice and enriches all our lives with increased knowledge and respect for people and cultures that might be new to us,” said Scott L Wyatt, president of SUU. “I can say without question that my life is more fulfilled and enriched by the friendships I have made with people at this university and around the world.”
Rivera describes herself as a visionary, energetic, creative problem solver who is a critically thinking leader with 10 years of experience and a diverse work history that includes training development and delivery, diversity and inclusion initiatives, team building, leadership, project management, mediation, counseling, and community building.
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