Katty Rivera (LC’04) Honored for Meritorious Service to Rutgers Alumni and the Latino Community

Katty Rivera (LC'04, GSE'09), second from left, accepts a 2013 Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award at the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership (REAL) Awards event, held October 25, 2013. Presenting the award are Donna K. Thornton, Rutgers University Vice President for Alumni Relations; University President Robert L. Barchi; and Maurice Griffin (NLAW'94), chair of the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA). Photo courtesy of RUAA.
Katty Rivera (LC’04, GSE’09), second from left, accepts a 2013 Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award at the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership (REAL) Awards event, held October 25, 2013. Presenting the award are Donna K. Thornton, Rutgers University Vice President for Alumni Relations; University President Robert L. Barchi; and Maurice Griffin (NLAW’94), chair of the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA). Photo courtesy of RUAA.

Rutgers alumna Katty Rivera, a member of Rutgers’ Livingston College Class of 2004, has served in many alumni leadership roles as a volunteer supporting both the Latino and Rutgers University communities.

The Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA) honored her with its Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award, part of the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership Awards, presented on October 25, 2013, as part of the Alumni Leaders Conference and Homecoming weekend. Established in 1974, this award recognizes Rutgers alumni for their outstanding service to the university that extends beyond a specific area or volunteer role and serves as a model for all RUAA volunteers.

Since the establishment of the Latino Alumni Association of Rutgers University (LAARU) in 2009, Katty has volunteered in support of both the Latino and Rutgers communities. She has served in several capacities in LAARU, including sergeant-at-arms, fundraising chair, and LAARU leader. From 2010-2013, Katty served on the RUAA Board of Directors, participating in multiple committees, including chairing the Awards and Recognition Committee that selected the 25th Anniversary Class of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni. She was also a member of the Alumni Leaders Council Committee and was the Class of 2004 Reunion Campaign Chair.

In addition to her work with the RUAA, Katty has participated in the Committee of Public Relations for the Peruvian American Political Action Committee, serves as director of organizational development for the Peruvian American Coalition – New Jersey Chapter, and is a steering committee member for the Elecciรณn Latina at the Rutgers University Center for American Women in Politics. Katty is also a 2009 graduate of Rutgers’ Graduate School of Education.

As of 2021, Katty serves as a project coordinator at the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network, Northeast and Caribbean. She is also a member of the advisory board for Rutgers’ Center for Latino Arts and Culture.

The RUAA presents the Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership Awards annually to recognize those alumni and other members of the university community who devote their time and talents to further the mission of the alumni association and the university.

The other 2013 recipients of the Scarlet Oak Meritorious Service Award are: Harold Kaplan (RC’57), Bruce E. Marich (RC’63, GSNB’65), and Patricia Nachtigal (NLAW’76).

The 2013 Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership (REAL) Awards honorees, pictured October 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA).
The 2013 Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership (REAL) Awards honorees, pictured October 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA).

Fellow Livingston College graduate Eric C. Schwarz (LC’92, SCILS ’92,’07) received the Block R Award at the same ceremony. Read more about all the honorees.