Mark Rivera

Background

About Mark Rivera

As the Deputy Director of Financial Aid Operations at the City University of New York (CUNY), I lead the oversight of financial aid shared services across 25 colleges, ensuring the timely and accurate disbursement of over $1 billion in funding. My role involves developing innovative batch processes that enhance the efficiency of financial aid application processing and awarding of federal, state, city, institution and private funds.I have successfully implemented SaaS solutions that streamline financial aid eligibility certification and improve the overall student experience. Additionally, I managed CUNY's participation in the National Partnership for Student Success initiative, which supports New York City Public Schools through the Federal Work-Study program—a program recognized nationally for its innovation.Before my current role, I served as the Associate Director of Financial Aid at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), overseeing the delivery of $125 million in financial assistance from various programs. During this time, I drove improvements in financial aid services through expanded technology and data systems, earning the CUNY Financial Aid Innovation Service Award in 2014 and the BMCC Innovation/Technology Award in 2018.A 2015 Leadership Fellow for the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC), I hold multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Government Studies and a Master of Public Administration from John Jay College, as well as a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. My research focuses on leadership behaviors during change management periods, particularly in the context of ERP system implementation.Specialties: Financial Aid, Government/Policy Studies, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Information Systems, ERP Systems.