Director Social Change and Student Engagement
- Ph.D., University of San Diego
- M.A., Hawaii Pacific University
- B.A., Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico
Dr. Juan Rivas’ path as a changemaker began after college, after living out of a suitcase for six years, traveling the world and working for a study abroad leadership program. He went on to get an M.A. in Communications and a graduate certificate in Organizational Change to focus his career working in the community development field. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Rivas engaged in different social change initiatives, from developing a curriculum for young adult leadership programs to co-designing and taking part in grassroots community development initiatives in Mexico, Guatemala, and the USA. This work brought him to the University of San Diego in 2012, where he is currently the Director of Social Change and Student Engagement at the Changemaker Hub, a campus-wide initiative providing training and opportunities for students to engage in social change.
Dr. Rivas has been part of the adjunct faculty team at the Kroc School for Peace Studies since 2016 where he teaches Leadership, Organizations, and Change. He was a faculty member of the RISE Urban Leadership Fellow Program in 2016 and 2017 and continues to explore ways to connect his expertise into practice in the community. His interest in mindful approaches to social change led him to learn Human Centered Design; he has facilitated and coached a number of social change projects over the years using this process. His research combines the fields of social innovation, leadership, and human development. As part of the Changemaker Team at USD, J.C. is inspired every day by the incredible talent, drive, and determination of students who have embraced the practice of being a changemaker.
Courses Taught
KROC 526 WKSH: Design Thinking, KROC 510 Leadership and Organizations, CHNG101 Introduction to Changemaking, KROC 528: Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Colombia