Brian Rivas (he/him/his) has been working to improve educational opportunities for disadvantaged students in California for nearly twenty years. His career in education policy began in the University of California’s Office of State Governmental Relations in Sacramento, where he advocated on a range of issues, including admissions, academic preparation, transfer, and faculty hiring. In 2008, he joined the California School Boards Association as a legislative advocate. He led the Association’s work on teacher evaluation and dismissal and other assignments, including charter schools, collective bargaining, and school facilities. Brian graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public policy.

“Our work is very personal for me. I think about the challenges I overcame as a low-income student and the opportunities that changed my life. In some cases, those opportunities have been eliminated. I want to keep the doors of opportunity open for all students and eliminate the barriers that too often keep students of color from pursuing their dreams for a better life.”

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