Rivera-Early will collaborate with legislators, Springfield officials, business leaders, nonprofit executives, and colleagues at the university to establish a link between UMass Amherst’s mandates in academics, research, and economic development and those of the City of Springfield. Lidya Rivera-Early has been appointed by the University of Massachusetts Amherst to the newly created role of executive director of government relations and Springfield partnerships. Rivera-Early, who most recently served as Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) director of community engagement, brings over 25 years of management, development, and leadership expertise to the role.
In her role as the point of contact between UMass Amherst and the City of Springfield, Rivera-Early will make use of her well-established contacts in both the public and private sectors. Chris Dunn, associate vice chancellor for government relations, will collaborate with her.
The new role was established to strengthen the Springfield-UMass partnership, which is based on a dedication to economic and cultural equality and opportunity, and is based at the UMass Amherst Center at Springfield, which is situated at Tower Square. Rivera-Early will collaborate with legislators, Springfield officials, business leaders, nonprofit executives, and colleagues at the university to establish a link between UMass Amherst’s mandates in academics, research, and economic development and those of the City of Springfield.
This entails fostering ties with local business leaders, forming and enhancing alliances with community stakeholders, and locating state and federal resources to help the partnership achieve its strategic objectives.
Over the previous ten years, Rivera-Early has held a variety of positions at STCC, where she has worked to strengthen ties with local partners and collaborated on projects related to career and educational development with colleagues on campus and outside organizations. She represented the college on a number of boards and in the community in addition to acting as a liaison between college departments and local, state, and federal stakeholders.
Prior to joining STCC, Rivera-Early managed the City of Springfield’s Section 3 grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. In this role, she oversaw administrative and technical tasks as well as the grant’s administration. She oversaw all of the Springfield Housing Authority’s grant-funded programs in her previous role as grants coordinator and manager.
Springfield College awarded Rivera-Early a bachelor’s degree in human services as well as a master’s degree in organizational management and leadership in the field of human services. She graduated from Leadership Pioneer Valley and has won numerous prestigious accolades, such as the Massachusetts Latina Excellence Award. Living in Springfield, Rivera-Early is on the boards of several local organizations, such as the newly established Dora D. Robinson Women’s Leadership Council and the Healing Racism Institute.
Lidia Rivera, the Executive Director of Government Relations and Springfield Partnerships at UMass Amherst, is warmly welcomed.
Lidia Rivera, the Executive Director of Government Relations and Springfield Partnerships at UMass Amherst, is warmly welcomed.
