Board of Directors

Martha Rivera is a bilingual, bi-literate, bicultural leader and practitioner with experience in strategizing and leading cross-functional teams to and through organizational transformation in support of positive community impact. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Programs at Simon Scholars, a community-based organization, where she brings almost ten years of experience in college access and first-generation college attainment. 

Prior to joining Simon Scholars, she served as the Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement at the Santa Ana Unified School District. In her role at SAUSD, she was the lead in the successful implementation of the practice of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and the Wellness Centers. 

She collaborated with non-profits, community organizations, other SAUSD departments, and school sites to establish and leverage mutually beneficial relationships and programs in support of students. As a result, SAUSD was successful in developing 57 Wellness Centers across the Santa Ana community in service and in alignment with our community and community needs within one year. 

Her work and commitment to the community have led to her recognition by Senator Umberg as a Woman of Distinction, and as the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) Scholar Alumnus Award in 2018. As a former client, Martha Rivera is also honored to serve her community as a Board Member at Share Our Selves (SOS), a federally qualified health center in Costa Mesa. In addition to her role as a board member, she also serves as the chair of the Social Services Committee, in alignment and support of the communities served by SOS. With a commitment to equity and inclusion, Martha serves as a board member in the Chapman Alumni association, with a focus on student /alumni experience, strategic planning, and community engagement. 

As the proud daughter of immigrant parents and a first-generation college graduate, Martha Rivera was born and raised in Santa Ana. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in psychology and Spanish from Chapman University and her Master's Degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2013. 

Having worked in various educational institutions and non-profits, both public and private, she has seen the systemic failures and how time and time again, our students and families of color are marginalized. Knowing all of this now, Martha is done filling in the gaps of inequity. Now, she wants to change the systems that created those gaps and partner with others with the same commitment. She believes that our collective action and collective impact is one that needs to move beyond transaction to transformation.