Dr. Pedro A. Rivera II, president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, has been named to Pennsylvania’s 50 Over 50 list, a recognition honoring influential leaders whose work has made a lasting impact on communities and industries across the Commonwealth. The leaders on this list are being recognized for lifetime achievement in their career.
The annual recognition celebrates senior leaders whose decades of service have helped shape Pennsylvania’s political, entrepreneurial, and social landscape. This year’s honorees have broadened access to education and healthcare, strengthened communities, advanced economic growth, and tackled some of the state’s most pressing challenges.
President Rivera’s selection reflects a lifelong commitment to expanding educational opportunity and creating pathways to economic mobility through education and workforce development.
A first-generation college graduate who has dedicated his career to education, President Rivera has spent decades focused on helping students access the education and support needed to thrive. Before joining Thaddeus Stevens College, he served as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education, where he championed student success, educational equity, and workforce readiness throughout the Commonwealth. He also spent time as a teacher, principal, and administrator of multiple large metropolitan school districts.
Since becoming president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, President Rivera has continued to advance the College’s mission as an architect of opportunity. Under his leadership, the College has expanded its impact by preparing students for high-demand careers through hands-on, practical learning and strong employer partnerships.
President Rivera’s leadership extends beyond the College. He serves on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, where he chairs the Council of Higher Education, and is a member of the State Board of Higher Education. Through these roles, he continues to advocate for policies and partnerships that strengthen educational access and workforce development across Pennsylvania.
This recognition celebrates not only President Rivera’s professional accomplishments, but also his unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for students, strengthening communities, and helping Pennsylvanians build successful futures through education.
Congratulations to President Rivera on this well-deserved honor. His leadership continues to inspire the Bulldog community and advance Thaddeus Stevens College’s mission of transforming lives through education.