Title/Position

Legal Assistant

Department

Legal

Pronouns

She/her/hers

Dakota Rivera joined the ACLU of New Mexico as the Reproductive Rights Community Engagement Specialist in 2020. As of March 2024 Dakota serves as a paralegal for those incarcerated and the criminal-legal system work at the ACLU of New Mexico.

Dakota earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of New Mexico and a minor in anthropology in 2019. In 2019, Dakota worked as a legislative intern at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. While working at Planned Parenthood, she discovered her passion for protecting New Mexican's access to reproductive rights. During her time at UNM, Dakota was a part of the Honor Society for Leadership and Success, UNM Generation Action, and volunteered at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center.

Dakota grew up in Taos, New Mexico, and has lived in Albuquerque since 2016. When she is not working, she enjoys hiking with her family and dogs and exploring national parks.