[3] Riggs graduated cum laude from Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion.
She soon moved to Drew University Theological School-Madison in New Jersey, where she fulfilled the position of Instructor and Assistant Professor of Religion and Society.
At Columbia Theological Seminary she is the J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics and also holds the position of Director of the ThM Program.
[7][8] Riggs is the President and Founder of Still Waters: A Center for Ethical Formation and Practices, Inc., a Not-for-Profit Educational Organization in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Riggs has served on the editorial boards for the Encyclopedia on Women and Religion in North America, the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, and the Feasting on the Word Lectionary Commentary Series.