[1] Rivera was born and raised in Puerto Rico.
[2] After first receiving a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Rivera received a PhD (2005) in theological and religious studies from Drew University.
[1] Rivera is known for her academic contributions in the area of postcolonialism, especially with reference to Caribbean thought.
[3] Her current work examines the impact of climate change from a Caribbean perspective.
[1] Rivera is a member of the American Academy of Religion, and was elected president for 2022.