Erica Buchanan-Rivera

​​​​​Erica Buchanan-Rivera has served as a teacher, an award-winning principal, director of curriculum, and a chief equity and inclusion officer in an urban and suburban school district. She has also supported school leaders and educators as an educational consultant who focuses on ideological work to support culturally responsive practices and conditions for learning. She brings her extensive experiences in K-12 leadership to the courses she teaches as well as her research, which centers quantitative methods to examine inclusivity in classrooms.

Buchanan-Rivera is a fierce advocate for identity affirming environments where students can be their authentic selves. She empowers leaders to create just conditions for youth.​

Education

• PhD in Educational Leadership, Indiana State University
• School Administration and Superintendent License (IL and IN)
• MA in Educational Leadership, Butler University
• BA in Elementary Education, Butler University

Teaching

• A&S 491 Effective Leadership of Schools
• A&S 492 The Principalship
• A&S 571 Spiritual and Administrative Leadership of Catholic Schools
• A&S 811 Assessment and Accountability
• A&S 812 Assessment, Accountability, and Evaluation in Higher Education
• A&S 498 Instructional Supervision and Support
• A&S 595 Workshop in Educational Leadership (Humanizing Leadership)
• A&S 696 Workshop in Educational Leadership (Humanizing Leadership)

Research Interests

• Educational justice, racial equity in schools, humanizing leadership, the intersection between Reggio Emilia philosophy and antiracist work, and identity affirming environments

Book

• Buchanan-Rivera, Erica. (2026). The DEI Practitioner's Handbook. Routledge. New York: NY
• Buchanan-Rivera, Erica. (2022). Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces that Center Humanity. Routledge Publishing. New York: NY​

Selected Publications & Media Appearances

• Parker, W. & Schwanke, J. (Hosts). (2026, May 27). Strategies for effective leadership with Dr. Buchanan-Rivera. (Episode 502). [Audio podcast episode]. In Principals Matters podcast.  https://williamdparker.com/2026/pmp502-strategies-for-effective-leadership-with-dr-erica-buchanan-rivera/
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2026, June 1). Not every teacher should be an administrator. Here’s how to decide. [Interviewed by Larry Ferlazzo]. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-not-every-teacher-should-be-an-administrator-heres-how-to-decide/2026/06
• Buchanan, Rivera, E. (2024, October 23). Want to retain teachers?: Here’s what districts and schools can do. Interview by Larry Ferlazzo]. Education Week https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-want-to-retain-teachers-heres-what-districts-and-schools-can-do/2024/10
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2024, January). Making the image of the child live within you and systems. Innovations Magazine, 32 (1), 44-49.
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2023, May). Fighting for a just education at the systems level. Educational Leadership Magazine, 80 (8), 58-63.
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2022, July 25). Advancing equity through self-inquiry and thoughtful actions. ASCD. https://www.ascd.org/blogs/advancing-equity-through-self-inquiry-and-thoughtful-action
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2021, September). Justice-centered work in schools. Indiana Mathematics Teacher Journal, p. 25-26​​

Awards and Honors

• Arnold Mickens Black Excellence Leadership Award in 2023 (Indiana)
• Administrator of the Year Award (2013)

Selected Presentations

• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2024, July 10). Centering humanity and justice in our work with youth. Innovative Schools Summit. Caesar’s Palace Conference Center. Las Vegas, NV.
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. & Marshall, S. (2024, June 27). Advancing equity through the cultivation of identity affirming spaces. Indiana Black Expo Conference. Indiana Convention Center. Indianapolis, IN.
• Buchanan-Rivera, E. (2024, May 30). Centering humanity and justice in our work with youth. [Keynote] Preschool of the Arts Professional Development Day. Central Library. Madison, WI