Meet John Joe Rivera, a UTRGV Unsung Hero

Text by Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

John Joe Rivera, Technology Support Specialist II on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus, has been a steady force behind the university’s technology support for 15 years. Whether troubleshooting a nonresponsive computer or reinstalling systems to prepare devices for new users, Rivera plays a key role in keeping the university running smoothly, one service ticket at a time.

Known for his problem-solving skills and team spirit, Rivera said what he enjoys most is helping people. “My teammates all have impressive technical skills,” he said, “but they’re even better people.” As a UTRGV alumnus and proud Vaquero dad, Rivera’s connection to the university is both professional and personal — a reflection of his deep commitment to the UTRGV community.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
As a member of the Desktop Support team, my role is to provide in-person technical support to faculty and staff.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
I’ve worked 15 years between UTPA and UTRGV.

DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY:
We receive our service requests—or tickets—from the IT Service Desk. I try to prioritize incidents first, such as issues where a client’s computer won’t power on or there’s no network connectivity. After that, I address service requests like reimaging, which involves reinstalling the operating system so the computer can be issued to a new user.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Helping people—one computer issue at a time.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY OR STORY ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
Not one particular memory, but I truly value the times when my Desktop Support team comes together to tackle a large request. My teammates all have impressive technical skills, but they’re even better people.

TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU:
I love to sing and dance.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
I earned my Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with a content specialization in Mathematics Education, from UTRGV in 2019. My older daughter earned her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services in 2020, graduating summa cum laude. My younger daughter is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences program. Go Spurs Go!