It is with deep sadness we announce that John Rivera, who previously served as assistant dean for the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering, passed away on Aug. 22, 2024.
Rivera dedicated his life to education, serving as assistant dean in the Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech University. After 28 years of service, he retired on Dec. 31, 2019. His varied career included roles as a civil engineer, sales professional, Roman Catholic campus minister, and higher education administrator. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1976, an M.B.A. in Marketing from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, in 1985, and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministries & Counseling from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, in 1990. While working full-time at Texas Tech, John pursued further education, beginning Ph.D. coursework in Industrial, Manufacturing & Systems Engineering at Texas Tech at the age of 60. His work and academic curiosity led him to focus his research on engineering education as a system.
John’s commitment to his family and passion for academia had a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. His compassion extended to his colleagues as well.
"He had a passion for mentoring younger staff, he encouraged them to take action and stood up for them if they were disrespected," said Assistant Director of Undergraduate Academics and Undergraduate Graduation Coordinator Patty Rodriguez.
John was the founder of the ConocoPhillips Academic Success Bridge Program, a comprehensive credit course that taught study habits, time management, and calculus concepts. This valuable program continues to thrive today.
He was a fountain of knowledge and a compassionate soul, particularly when it came to supporting students in distress. He was deeply committed to their mental health, often going out of his way to provide comfort and guidance. There are countless instances of him taking the time to calm students – offering them hope, and helping them find a path forward. He would personally accompany students to the counseling center, talking to them along the way to ensure they knew they weren't alone and that someone genuinely cared for them.
"I am grateful for the last day I spent with him. John's true passion was helping students, and the day before he passed away, he dedicated his time to our team at the Launch Your Future in Engineering (LYFE) event. He loved this event and was filled with joy and excitement,” said the Director of Student Services Jamie Perez. “John attended every session with the students and even playfully heckled me during the welcome presentation, ensuring the students received every bit of helpful information. He handed out his business card to students and was busy making plans with me and others on how to better support them. This is what we will all miss about John—his unwavering passion and boundless energy for student success."
John was more than an educator; he was a mentor and friend to many, leaving a legacy of knowledge, lifelong learning and kindness that will endure.
“My conversation with John on August 21, 2024, was on a familiar subject that he was very passionate about—how to train successful engineers out of the Whitacre College of Engineering. I was always impressed with the very clear ideas he had on training students to be successful after they left Tech,” said Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Stephen Ekwaro-Osire. “He had, in the last 28 years, successfully converted some of his ideas into programs that we still have in the college. I will certainly miss seeing how his eyes lit up when we conversed about training engineers.”
To honor his legacy, memorial contributions can be made to the John Rivera Memorial Scholarship for Undergraduate Research Experiences at Texas Tech University: give.ttu.edu/rivera-memorial.
To learn more about him and life, read his obituary here.
Our sincere condolences go out to his family, many friends and colleagues.