Heily Rivas is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. Her creative work focuses on the intersection between quality craftsmanship and sustainable garment-making practices. During the 2023-24 academic year, Rivas served as the Student Government Association (SGA) President and was named a Newman Civic Fellow. She was formerly the MassArt SGA Secretary, as well as the Intercultural Coordinator for the MassArt Activities Council (MAC Board), where she developed and implemented student programming focused on elevating tradition and educating others on cultures from around the world.Rivas is also President of her family's non-profit organization, Rivas Perdomo Family Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid to children and families in need in Latin America. The Foundation's efforts mobilize artistic expression in service of the community, as since 2005 the members of the Rivas Perdomo family have been using their musical talents as a band - El Grupo H - to collect donations from across South Florida and consequently deliver them in-person to families living in poverty. The Humanitarian Mission trips always come along with a live performance and a talk centered on personal overcoming, in the hopes of inspiring the beneficiaries to seek brighter futures just as the founders of the organization did years ago.Looking forward, Rivas seeks to continue her education into a Ph.D., exploring avenues for material and strategic innovation in the fashion industry to protect both the environment and the people involved in the garment supply chain. In her spare time, Rivas pursues creative adventures designing and sewing for private clients, writing fiction, teaching music at her family's music school - Rivas Music & Video, performing with her family's band, and managing social media accounts for her up-and-coming fashion business, Heily Rivas Fashion, and the non-profit organization.