Isabel Rivera
Isabel Rivera is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science & Policy at Clark University. She graduated from Penn State in May 2026 with a B.A. in Geography and a B.S. in Community, Environment, & Development, a minor in Politics & Public Policy, and certificates in Environment & Society Geography and Justice, Ethics, & Diversity in Space.
Her research interests center on human-environment relationships, particularly Indigenous knowledge, the enduring impacts of colonialism, and the ways economic systems shape environmental governance and ecological degradation. Through her work with the Environmental Demography Network (EDeN), Isabel has supported NSF-funded research projects, managed website and social media communications, and contributed to research reporting and public outreach.
Isabel plans to pursue a PhD in Geography or a related field and a career in research and teaching, exploring how colonial histories, land governance, and infrastructure development shape community wellbeing and environmental futures, particularly in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. She hopes to center Indigenous knowledge, grassroots movements, and cultural continuity in this work. Her goals build on experience in collaborative restoration research and international fieldwork, alongside student leadership, peer advising, and teaching assistant roles that have strengthened her commitment to supporting students and collaborative learning.
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