By Caleb McDairmant

Cristina Rivera, BJ ‘19, has built a career rooted in public service. Currently, she works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency, specializing in water and wastewater infrastructure programs.

But before she was supporting rural communities in Puerto Rico and beyond, Rivera was a high school journalist from Edwardsville, Illinois, unsure if Mizzou was the right fit for her journalism education.

“At first, I did not want to go to Mizzou at all. But once I toured, I realized that it was one of the best journalism programs in the country. I had to go here,” she said.

She found her niche in strategic communication. Classes in public relations writing and strategy prepared her for Mizzou’s capstone program, MOJO Ad. She worked with Chevrolet and gained real-world experience as a content manager, responsible for writing the campaign plan book. From daily team meetings to campaign presentations, the capstone program simulated the demands of working at an agency.

“It really put me in the mindset of a working professional,” she said. “It all prepared me for my next steps.”

After graduation, Rivera moved to Chicago and worked for SmithBucklin, a professional services agency. There, the “Mizzou Mafia” welcomed her into the network of alumni already working in the city. Yet something else was calling her.

“At first, I did not want to go to Mizzou at all. But once I toured, I realized that it was one of the best journalism programs in the country. I had to go here.”

Cristina Rivera

“That was a good stepping stone,” she said. “But I eventually decided to move to Puerto Rico because that’s where my family is originally from. I wanted to do something for myself and go out on this adventure to connect back to my roots.”

In Puerto Rico, Rivera earned a master’s degree in public relations from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón while living with her grandmother.

“I reconnected with my family, the language and culture,” she said. “I figured, I’m here, I’m studying, I’m connecting with my roots, why not make a career here?”

And she did. She landed a role with USDA Rural Development, an agency that funds essential services in rural communities.

“Our goal is to help people in rural America get access to clean and sanitary water and wastewater infrastructure,” she said.

At work, Rivera reconnected with more of her roots. Her mother had worked with USDA much of her entire life.

“You never want to mislead your audience. So much of it is about being concise and listening to figure out what resonates and what doesn’t.”

Cristina Rivera

“Working for the same department as my mom did is very special to me. I look up to her so much. She’s an incredible force to be reckoned with,” Rivera said. “She isn’t just my mom, she’s my mentor and I hope to carry on her legacy.”

Rivera has been with USDA for four years, supporting the day-to-day operations of the water and wastewater program. She provides USDA leadership and field staff toolkits, internal training and external materials like talking points, speeches, and social media posts.

Rivera has had the opportunity to wear many hats while at USDA, a perk of working for the government, she said. And she’s always felt prepared to step up when needed. She’s stepped in when natural disasters, like Hurricane Fiona in 2022, or power outages affect local residents and strain rural infrastructure. And she’s stepped in as acting public information officer for USDA offices in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Her work in Rural Partners Network is among her most notable efforts to streamline support for rural communities. Rural Partners Network was a federal initiative in its earliest stages when Rivera began.

 Putting together an application for federal funding can take a really long time and is somewhat of a lengthy process, she said.

“With the help of Rural Partners Network, rural communities could become more efficient in applying for federal programs and funding important community needs, like purchasing ambulances or bringing high-speed internet to town.”

“They make you learn everything from writing to video editing to account management. That cross-training helped me so much in my career.”

Cristina Rivera

She focused on building outreach, awareness of the program’s purpose and earning trust in communities that had seen similar efforts fall short. She emphasized consistency, clarity and a deep respect for each community’s unique challenges and priorities.

“You never want to mislead your audience,” she said. “So much of it is about being concise and listening to figure out what resonates and what doesn’t.”

To accomplish this, Rivera helped lead focus groups where local members of the community could voice their concerns and offer ideas for improvement.

This example, and the many others, demonstrate Rivera’s ability to adapt to any challenge. She credits Mizzou’s strategic communication program with giving her tools to step confidently into any situation.

“They make you learn everything from writing to video editing to account management,” she said. “That cross-training helped me so much in my career.”

“You’re not always going to have somebody on your team that specializes in something. It only makes you a better professional and gives you an advantage in the workplace.”

Cristina Rivera

No matter the hat she is wearing, Rivera said her Mizzou education gave her the flexibility to stand up when needed.

“You’re not always going to have somebody on your team that specializes in something,” she said. “It only makes you a better professional and gives you an advantage in the workplace.”

Looking back, Rivera reflects on how her Mizzou experiences have shaped her today.

“I always look back on my Mizzou experiences and think, gosh, I am so lucky to have had the education that I did. Learning how to adapt and how to manage a project have prepared me for the career I have now,” she said. “Those experiences led me to where I am today.”

Updated: June 3, 2025