Jessica Rivera is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Texas at El Paso. She has worked in education for over 15 years, with experience in both K-12 and higher education settings. Jessica’s research is centered around several critical areas, including the examination of Latino/a/é experiences in higher education, understanding the unique challenges faced by minoritized students in STEM disciplines, and the role of Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Her current research focuses on the experiences of Latino/a/é students in computer science at Hispanic-Serving Institutions. As a first-generation college student from humble beginnings, Jessica is personally committed to investigating and advocating for strategies centered on fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for minoritized populations in higher education.