Rivas is newest CSBA legislative advocate

Brian Rivas, who represented the University of California in the state Capitol for well over a decade, has joined CSBA as a legislative advocate. Rivas earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in public policy.

He also has experience with school governance. The student body president of El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Rivas also served as a non-voting student member of his local school board.

He comes to CSBA after spending 14 years as a lobbyist for the UC system, representing 10 campuses, five medical centers and three national laboratories. During his time with UC, Rivas worked on such difficult policy issues as student diversity, labor relations and long-range planning and development. Rivas says his experience as an advocate for the university taught him a great deal about the challenges facing public schools, and he relishes the chance to advocate for public education from a K-12 perspective.

“I’m very excited to join CSBA and play a role in shaping policy affecting students in our public schools,” Rivas said. “This is the type of work I envisioned when I went into public service many years ago, and now I’m thrilled by the opportunity.”

Rivas will handle a range of critical education issues for CSBA, including charter schools, facilities and collective bargaining.