An active peace educator, Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera, who is a full professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi, is an inspiring moral voice to her students and colleagues at MSU as well as the Social Ethics Society. Dr. Rivera pushed for the research on narratives on the ground during the Marawi siege, resulting in a highly original paper that gave voice to the struggles of civilians and the heroic deeds of ordinary folks who helped their fellow human beings escape the war that lasted for six months.
Dr. Rivera holds a master's in philosophy from Ateneo de Manila University and has a doctorate degree in language studies from MSU Marawi. Recently, she presented a paper at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. She was also a speaker in a talk organized by the Philosophical Association of the Philippines in March. Dr. Rivera has spoken about her peace advocacy in various venues, including events hosted by Ateneo de Davao University and the Social Ethics Society.
She accepted early this year the invitation to join the Social Ethics Society Board where she holds the position of Secretary. She is a strong voice for the organization, pushing the SES to pursue its Mindanao agenda while emphasizing the importance of collective growth and development in the academic work of her colleagues. She manifests the importance of independent thought while being the life of the group during events.
Dr. Rivera has been key to the Ethics for Nature workshop at MSU, a first for the university in which students engage with outstanding ethics professionals across the region. The maverick professor is well-loved by her current and former students, and admired by her colleagues. In the struggle for peace and woman empowerment, Mindanao has found its version of the philosopher Martha Nussbaum.