Jacqueline Rivera

I joined Brookhaven about a year ago. I provide admin support for the DEI Office and one of my main jobs is to help communicate with staff that DEI is not for a particular group—it involves everyone. Our goal is to make everybody feel like the Lab is a safe environment where, when you come to work, you can be yourself and feel comfortable.

At the DEI Office, the door is always open—we want to create a welcoming feeling. People come in if they have a concern or an issue, but they also know they can come to me if they have a question, or even just to walk in to see a friendly face, to say hi and talk for a few minutes. That’s my favorite part of my job—working with people, communicating with them, assisting them in various ways.

Another great part of my job is helping to coordinate events for the ERGs, who bring in experts in their field to do virtual talks during lunch. These activities bring people together to see an amazing speaker, and they leave the event realizing that they are a part of the DEI effort, and they want to continue to participate in trainings and events. That’s one of the most fulfilling things for me. We’re working towards our goal, and it happens very slowly, but it's an absolutely wonderful feeling when you see a little bit of a difference.