Dr. Rivas is a faculty member in the Counselor Education program, where he specializes in rehabilitation counseling, addiction counseling, marriage and family counseling, and clinical mental health counseling. He currently serves as the program’s Fieldwork Coordinator, supporting students as they prepare for supervised clinical practice and professional entry into the counseling field.

Dr. Rivas brings extensive experience across higher education, clinical practice, supervision, and professional leadership. Before entering full-time faculty work, he held administrative leadership roles in academic advising, student retention, student disability services, and student conduct. He has taught at the community college, baccalaureate, and graduate levels, including previous faculty appointments at Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. At UCCS, he taught in the Department of Counseling and Human Services, offering courses in clinical mental health counseling, substance use counseling, student development theory, educational psychology, educational leadership, and the Air Force Officer Commanding Leadership program, which prepares U.S. Air Force Academy officers in counseling, lifespan, student development, leadership, and higher education.

His clinical background includes work in private practice and community mental health settings, with experience serving individuals involved with the legal system, first responders, couples, military service members and their families, health care professionals, and clients seeking support for mental health and substance use concerns. Dr. Rivas also provides clinical supervision for professionals pursuing LPC, LPCC, LMFT, and LAC licensure. He is licensed in Colorado as a Licensed Addiction Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and in California as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. His national credentials include Master Addiction Counselor, CCE™ Approved Clinical Supervisor, and AAMFT-Approved Supervisor.

Dr. Rivas’s scholarly interests include the development of first-generation college students, the impact of socioeconomic status on clinical relationships, bullying and incivility in higher education, access to care, domestic violence, and substance use disorders. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Counseling Association, including its Legislative and Advocacy Committee. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors, including its Legislative and Advocacy Committee. In addition to his teaching and service, Dr. Rivas provides clinical supervision trainings in the State of Colorado as a Behavioral Health Administration–approved trainer for Clinical Supervision I & II, as well as mental health, clinical supervision, and substance use trainings at the local, regional, and national levels.