Doctoral candidate receives 2020 Latino Excellence and Achievement (LEAD) award

Mariela Rivas honored for graduate student excellence in academic achievement and service to others

Fifth-year doctoral student Mariela J. Rivas received a 2020 Latino, Excellence and Achievement (LEAD) Award from the UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence. LEAD awards are given to 15 graduate students campus-wide in recognition of expertise, research, and contributions to graduate student success.

Rivas is specializing in Teaching, Learning, Cognition, and Development. Her research interests include higher education, educational technology, online learning, learning, memory, cognition, and STEM education

​Currently, she is researching opportunities to improve college success among underrepresented students in STEM courses, with a focus on low-cost interventions that can help all students succeed through study skills training and formative assessment using interactive response systems.

During her time at UCI, Rivas has taken a lead role on two NSF-funded projects under the guidance of her advisors, Professor Mark Warschauer and Assistant Professor Rachel Baker. Investigating Virtual Learning Environments focuses on studying and improving virtual learning at UCI. Project SPROUT: Investigating Learning Environments in Higher Education used observations, interviews, and document and video analysis to examine instructional practices in large undergraduate lecture courses at UCI.  

In supporting fellow students, Rivas has served as a Scholar-in-Residence in the DREAM Center, mentoring and holding workshops for undocumented undergraduates who are interested in research and pursuing graduate school. She helped coordinate the DECADE Peer Mentor program and was a founding member of the Latino Excellence and Achievement Dinner planning committee.

“Mariela has been able to combine cutting-edge research on how to improve student success in higher education with dedicated mentorship and service on behalf of diverse students,” said Warschauer. “Her expert contributions in all areas have been absolutely outstanding.”

Upon completing her degree, Mariela plans to pursue a University level, tenure-track faculty position.

​LEAD was established in 2017 to celebrate Latinx research excellence and achievement by recognizing graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni who provide support and encouragement and create a sense of institutional memory focused on academic and professional leadership within the UCI Latinx community.