Dr. Rosa L. Rivera-McCutchen She/Her/ella

Dr. Rosa L. Rivera-McCutchen is a bold voice in educational leadership and equity-centered change. A nationally recognized scholar, speaker, and leadership coach, she brings nearly three decades of experience as an educator beginning as a high school teacher in the Bronx and now shaping future leaders as a professor and thought partner to schools and systems across the country.

A proud Puerto Rican, first-generation college graduate, and product of NYC public schools, Rosa brings a deeply personal lens to her work. Her lived experiences as a student, teacher, higher education leader, and mother of three Afro-Latinx children in public schools drive her unwavering commitment to justice, humanity, and community in education.

Her concept of radical care a leadership framework that challenges traditional models by centering anti-racism, love, and liberation has inspired educators, policymakers, and organizations across the U.S. and internationally. Rosa currently serves as Professor of Administration & Supervision at CUNY Hunter College and is affiliated with the CUNY Graduate Center and NYU’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools. Her acclaimed book, Radical Care: Leading for Justice in Urban Schools, along with her widely published research, bridges visionary thinking with actionable tools for transformative change.

A dynamic speaker, leadership coach, and facilitator, Rosa partners with school districts, boards, universities, and community groups seeking to lead with purpose, courage, and authenticity. She brings clarity, connection, and a powerful call to justice in every space she enters.