Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera (often listed as Godiva C. Eviota-Rivera, Ph.D., or Godiva E. Rivera) is a Filipino academic and professor based in Mindanao, Philippines.
She is a full professor at Mindanao State University (MSU) - Main Campus in Marawi City, where she is affiliated with the Department of Philosophy. Her expertise spans philosophy, language studies (including sociolinguistics and discourse analysis), and peace education/peacebuilding.
Key details about her background and work:
She holds a Master's in Philosophy from Ateneo de Manila University and a Ph.D. in Language Studies from MSU Marawi. She has also been pursuing or holds additional advanced studies in philosophy (e.g., at the University of San Carlos in Cebu).
Her research interests focus on the intersections of philosophy, language, and peace, particularly in the context of Mindanao's socio-political and conflict-affected environment (e.g., Bangsamoro region). She has contributed to discussions on inclusive governance, post-conflict reconciliation, and culturally responsive peace initiatives.
She is actively involved in the Social Ethics Society (SES), a Mindanao-based professional organization in philosophy and ethics. She serves as Secretary of the SES Board of Directors (elected in early 2025) and is described in SES contexts as a "maverick philosopher" and a strong voice for the organization. She has presented papers at SES events, including on peacebuilding (e.g., at an international ethics conference in Japan, sponsored by SES and partners), and is listed as a facilitator or plenary speaker for the 16th Social Ethics Society Conference (February 18-20, 2026, at Holy Cross of Davao College).
Her scholarly work appears in platforms like Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and the Social Ethics Society Journal of Applied Philosophy. Examples include co-authored papers on higher education in the Philippines during crises and related ethical/philosophical themes.
She has participated in international training and initiatives, such as programs by The Hague Academy on promoting peace and inclusive governance in Mindanao, emphasizing gender-responsive and context-specific approaches in fragile/post-conflict settings.
In summary, she's a prominent philosophy educator and researcher in Mindanao, with a strong emphasis on peace-related scholarship and active leadership in Philippine philosophical communities like the Social Ethics Society.