Vannessa Rivera
Santa Barbara,CA
Summary
Qualified PhD Student with solid background in coordinating club activities and managing member relations. Successfully organized and executed numerous events, fostering cohesive and engaged community. Demonstrated strong communication and problem-solving skills.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Teaching Assistant
UCSB
07.2024 - Current
- Shakespeare on Stage and Screen (Fall 2025)
- Theater 5 - Introduction to theater (Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, Summer 2025)
- Theater 2C - Performance in Global Contexts – Europe (Summer 2024)
Executive Director
Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network
01.2023 - 07.2023
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Built relationships with donors, government officials and other organizations to secure funding and support for organization.
- Set organizational goals and objectives to guide and direct company focus and achieve mission fulfillment.
- Exercised appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability.
Teaching Assistant
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
01.2021 - 12.2022
- Revise and grade writing and oral assignments for the classes "Aesthetics of Activism," "Guitar Heroes," "History of the film," and "Music and Human experience" from the Performance Studies department
- Assist teachers with classroom management and document coordination. Maintained positive learning environment
- Partner with teacher to plan and implement lessons following school's curriculum, goals and objectives
Research Assistant
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
05.2021 - 06.2021
- Analyzed the virtual conference "Noise in the Anthropocene." Produced a document with the literature review and summary of the conference
- Transcripted 10 presenters' seminar talks to aid in comparative analysis
- Collaborated with supervisor on the article for publication (in preparation) about the conference
Elementary Teacher
COLSUBSIDIO SCHOOL
06.2019 - 09.2020
- Taught English classes to 3 courses of around 25 children each through artistic languages such as sound, plastic, and body. Progressed in the exploration of body language through theater
- Strengthened sociolinguistic, communicative, and pragmatic skills for children in vulnerable economic situation. Taught practical learning of English concerning others and with the needs of each student
- Reinforced students' creative and artistic ability by creating a story as a class project. Established a relationship between artistic languages and English
Customer Service officer
MANAGEMENT CENTER SCOTIABANK
11.2017 - 06.2019
- Advised customers from other countries such as Canada or India. Developed intercultural dialogues
- Advised financial procedures around the handling of debit cards and credit card. Included the skills of empathy and listening as the basis for the relationship with customers
Education
Ph.D. - Theater, Dance And Performance
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA08.2028
M.A - Performance Studies
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
College Station, TX12.2022
B.A - Political Science
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA
Bogotá, Colombia09.2017
Skills
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Relationship development
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Budget oversight
- Meeting facilitation
Languages
Spanish
English
German
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Actress and Facilitator
VIUDAS NEGRAS - FEMINIST COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
Bogotá D.C, Colombia
June 2018 - January 2021
● Researched Theoretical-practical in feminist pedagogy and methodologies, gender violence, and school bullying. Devised six workshops concerning gender stereotypes and violence
● Articulated theory with the practice in workshops through artistic resources. Engaged vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, in gender and theater discussion and practice
● Designed community encounters about sexuality, pleasure, and care through dance and singing. Encouraged women's body recognition within the community
Actress and Facilitator
SOMOS - ARTISTIC THEATER GROUP AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
Bogotá D.C, Colombia
August 2017- January 2021
● Explored social perspectives of each dramatic conflict and theatrical techniques concerning body exploration and script writing. Created collective two original plays entitled "Do not tell anyone" And "Ancestral"
● Interpreted the dramatic script of two original plays titled "Do not tell anyone" And "Ancestral." Participated in 3 seasons of each play, reaching a total audience of more than 500 people
● Instructed community intervention workshops for 30 children from impoverished areas. Generated trust and collective listening.
AWARDS
Chancellor´s Fellowship 2023
University of California, Santa Barbara
September 2023
Fulbright Scholarship for Artists winner cohort 2020
FULBRIGHT
August 2019
Glasscock Graduate archive and fieldwork grant
MELBERN G. GLASSCOCK CENTER FOR HUMANITIES RESEARCH- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
February 2022
Diversity, equity, and inclusion grant
DEPARTMENT OF PERFORMANCE STUDIES- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
July 2022
Graduate summer research grant
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
May 2022
Summer research grant
DEPARTMENT OF PERFORMANCE STUDIES- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
May 2022
Jose Muñoz First Presentation Award
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THEATRE CONFERENCE
August 2022
Distinguished Master of Arts in Performance Studies Student Award
SCHOOL OF PERFORMANCE, VISUALIZATION & FINE ARTS
December 2022
Timeline
Graduate Teaching Assistant
UCSB
07.2024 - Current
Executive Director
Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network
01.2023 - 07.2023
Research Assistant
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
05.2021 - 06.2021
Teaching Assistant
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
01.2021 - 12.2022
Elementary Teacher
COLSUBSIDIO SCHOOL
06.2019 - 09.2020
Customer Service officer
MANAGEMENT CENTER SCOTIABANK
11.2017 - 06.2019
M.A - Performance Studies
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
B.A - Political Science
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA
Ph.D. - Theater, Dance And Performance
University of California, Santa Barbara