Excellence

In August of 2022, the BSOS community welcomed Dr. Susan Rivera as our new dean, embracing her vision of promoting a culture of impactful research and scholarship, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships, and advocating for the college’s programs.

Rivera is an experienced scholar, teacher, and leader. She joined Maryland from the University of California, Davis, where she served as chair and professor in the Department of Psychology. There, Rivera also was an affiliate faculty member with the Center for Neuroscience, and was a faculty member in both the Center for Mind and Brain and the MIND Institute.

Rivera’s research is focused on investigating brain structure and function in both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, Down syndrome and the fragile X spectrum of involvement.

“Dean Rivera is a strong advocate for interdisciplinary research and collaboration on our campus. Her innovative leadership was evident at the interactive research showcase that BSOS held in May. Susan is a champion for the BSOS community, and her energy and vision for the college are inspiring,” said Provost Jennifer King Rice

Making the move across the country with her family was a big change for Rivera. What prompted her to take the leap of faith were the critical research projects, collaborative possibilities, and sense of community that she found at Maryland.

By happenstance, she had been a part of a review process for the college’s Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science prior to the deanship becoming available. She had been so impressed by that program and by BSOS that she wanted to learn more about the opportunity to work at Maryland.

“The work being done in this college is so impressive, and makes such a strong impact on the world. We are addressing the major concerns of our times. My goal is to help give everyone the tools and the platforms they need to let the world see what they have to offer, and to elevate our status as a major research, learning and teaching powerhouse,” Rivera said. “I love to learn, and there is so much to learn as dean of this college. Connecting with faculty members, staff, and alumni—and hearing about all they are doing and all they want to do—that is the fun part.”

Rivera’s first two semesters on campus have been exciting and challenging—from co-hosting an inspirational lecture by worldrenowned ethologist, activist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, to promoting the college’s first multidisciplinary research showcase (see page 14), to launching new centers and programs.

Rivera has received strong support from the BSOS community, and from campus leadership. She has also forged a unique community with a group she calls the “sister deans,” as Dean Stephanie Shonekan started in the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) and Dean Kimberly Griffin started in the College of Education this summer. The leaders have provided collaboration and support to each other as they took on their new roles.

“Elevating and supporting those around you is how I’ve always led, and that has been amplified in this sisterhood,” Rivera said. “I’m immensely grateful that the stars aligned to put us together on campus at this moment.”

Understanding and Supporting Our Students

Rivera’s unique personal experience informs her service as dean, especially her guidance and advocacy for the student body.

As the youngest of 13 children growing up in Gary, Indiana, with parents who emigrated from Puerto Rico, Rivera was thrilled to attend Indiana University, Bloomington as an undergraduate.

Getting into college was a great achievement. But once she was there, she experienced many challenges—and didn’t always have a road map to success.

“My upbringing really informs who I am as a person, and thereby how I lead,” Rivera said. “My parents were large proponents of education, but as I began my undergraduate studies, I found I didn’t have the vocabulary or the awareness to easily navigate my higher education journey.”

It wasn’t until Rivera’s sophomore year that she realized not only what a first-generation college student was, but that the term described her.

“I pulled a tab off a flyer for a summer research opportunity program for firstgeneration students, and I realized it was for me. That experience got me into a research lab, and I never looked back. I stayed during that summer and worked,” Rivera said. “I eventually learned what graduate school was—I had never heard that term growing up, and I was embarrassed to ask as a student. But when I found out that you could be paid to do research and pursue questions that are interesting to you, that this could be your job, I was astounded.”

Question by question, mentor by mentor, Rivera succeeded at Indiana and went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

As someone who worked in bars and restaurants to make money and to be able to eat as an undergraduate, she is driven to be a mentor and an inspiration to students, both to advocate for their basic needs, and to seek out extraordinary opportunities.

Rivera works to make sure that all students have the tools they need to succeed, and that faculty and staff are supported as well.

“It is important to me to foster a general appreciation of the importance of caring for those around you; I keep that top of mind at all times,” Rivera said. “Especially in the times we’re living through, and the impacts of our modern reality, it’s critical not to lose sight that people need to be checked in with and taken care of. That sense of care for our community should be front and center among the shared goals for our college.”

Diversity and Inclusion as Excellence

From her first days on campus, Rivera made it clear that fostering inclusive excellence would be a hallmark of her tenure.

“The reason I gravitate toward the term ‘inclusive excellence’ is that it matches my view that excellence is inclusivity, and excellence is diversity—it’s not that there is excellence and you bring diversity to it. When you have diverse perspectives at the table, your solutions are smarter. Your ability to answer probing questions increases, and life will just have more color,” Rivera said. “Our college’s mission is to approach grand challenges from every angle. I think it’s important to gather as much unique knowledge and experience as possible to drive ideas forward and find successful solutions.”

One of Rivera’s first actions as dean was to complete the final stages of a bold, college-wide, concerted effort to hire several faculty members focused on racial inequality. Five talented new faculty members were hired as a result, in the Departments of African American Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Government and Politics, Psychology, and Sociology. Each of these new faculty members who start in the fall are members of underrepresented minority groups.

“I am thrilled that these faculty members will join our college in the fall, as they are all innovators and are bringing new ideas to their fields,” Rivera said. “These scholars are fulfilling our goal of making the campus a more diverse and inclusive place. But it isn’t just about bringing talented people here, it is about making sure they succeed on this campus—we’ve been very intentional about putting plans in place to make sure that our new faculty members will have resources, feel included, and have their needs met.”

BSOS is also showing its commitment to inclusive excellence by offering the new Minor in Anti-Black Racism. This minor— which is largely made possible by support from the Department of African American Studies—is a collaborative effort between BSOS and several colleges and schools.

“This new minor will broaden the perspective of so many students, leading to a greater understanding of not only the root causes of racism, but effective ways of addressing racism and promoting a more equitable society,” Rivera said.

Looking Ahead

Outlining future plans, Rivera said that establishing her research lab at Maryland will be important going forward, as will fostering inclusivity and breaking down barriers when it comes to research within and beyond the college.

Rivera has enjoyed meeting alumni and donors at numerous events in the past year, and appreciates the engagement and encouragement she has received. She looks forward to meeting many more community members.

“Meeting alumni and donors is very inspiring—there’s a very strong sense of Maryland pride that comes through. That’s how you know that this is a special place, and that BSOS is a special college,” Rivera said. “This institution that I champion is so phenomenal; it makes certain parts of my job easy. I love when people ask me what is new and special about BSOS.” •