February 6, 2020

HACU fellow Rivera first woman, first Hispanic appointed president of Macalester College

San Antonio, Texas - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is pleased to announce the appointment of a fellow from its Leadership Academy/ La Academia de Liderazgo to college president.

On February 3, 2020, the Macalester College Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Suzanne Rivera, Ph.D., as the college’s 17th president. Rivera is the first woman and first Hispanic president to lead Macalester College. This summer, Rivera will begin her term as president of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

“HACU applauds the appointment of Dr. Suzanne Rivera as the next president of Macalester College,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “Dr. Rivera’s distinguished career and her path to the presidency is an inspiration. We wish her success as she begins a new chapter in her career as the first female, Hispanic president of this institution.”

Currently, Rivera serves as vice president for research and technology management at Case Western Reserve University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Civilization from Brown University, a Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctor of Philosophy in public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas.

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to join the Macalester family,” Rivera said. “This is a community where curious people thrive, where individuality is celebrated, and where the purpose of education is to equip students with tools to make an impact in the wider world.”

Macalester’s current President, Brian Rosenberg, will leave the college in May 2020, after 17 years of service.

Rivera is a fellow of the inaugural cohort HACU’s Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo, a one-year program designed to prepare the next generation of culturally diverse leaders for executive and senior level positions in higher education. Information is available at hacu.net/leadershipacademy. Applications for HACU’s second cohort will be accepted through March 6, 2020.

Learn more about Dr. Rivera at macalester.edu/17th-president.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Sacramento, California and Washington, D.C.

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HACU Media Contact: Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia / 210-576-3206 / njgarcia@hacu.net