Susana Rivera-Mills | |
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![]() Rivera-Mills in 2019 | |
14th President of Aurora University | |
Assumed office June 1, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Rebecca L. Sherrick |
Personal details | |
Born | San Salvador,El Salvador |
Alma mater | University of Iowa University of New Mexico |
Susana Victoria Rivera-Mills is a Salvadoran sociolinguist and academic administrator serving as the president of Aurora University since 2023.
Rivera-Mills was born and raised in San Salvador. [1] Her mother stayed at home and her father owned a construction and trucking business. [1] She attended a girls Catholic school. [1] In 1982,at the age of twelve,her family immigrated to San Francisco and later to Eureka,California. [1] She attended Humboldt State University before transferring to University of Iowa where she earned a B.A. (1991) in Spanish and a M.A. (1993) in Spanish linguistics. [1] [2] She completed a Ph.D. in Romance languages at the University of New Mexico in 1998. [1] Her dissertation was titled,Language Use,Proficiency,and Attitudes Among Hispanics in a Northern California Community. [3] Garland D. Bills was her dissertation director. [3]
Rivera-Mills' researched Latino communities,sociolinguistics,and Spanish language and culture. [2] She was a faculty member at Northern Arizona University for 12 years. [1] She joined Oregon State University as chair of the department of modern languages. [1] She also served as executive associate dean of the liberal arts college,dean of undergraduate studies,and vice provost of academic programs and learning innovation from 2007 to 2018. [1] In July 2018,Rivera-Mills became the provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at Ball State University. [4] [2] On June 1,2023,she became the 14th president of Aurora University,succeeding Rebecca L. Sherrick. [2] She is the first Latina in the position. [4]