Nursing students walk into the office of “Dr. Koyah” — as she is fondly known — and are greeted by bright colors, positive affirmations, and the embracing smile of the student success and retention specialist (SSRS).
Sessions with Dr. Koyah Rivera, who just completed her first year at the School of Nursing (SON) at UNC Greensboro, often begin with students reading “Dr. Koyah’s Student Success Motto” for inspiration:
My tomorrow will be better.
My tomorrow will be full of success.
My tomorrow will be filled with the spirit of excellence.
I cannot fail. I will succeed.
I believe it. I receive it!
It’s this infectious manifestation of positivity and empowerment, coupled with targeted academic coaching and mentoring grounded in research, which makes Rivera a favorite new addition and helps ensure UNCG retains and graduates nursing students.
Her intentional efforts work to combat the national nursing shortage.
From Student Broadcaster to Student Champion
Rivera calls herself a “cheerleader, motivational speaker, and researcher.” She uses all three descriptors as she monitors students’ progress, fosters a supportive learning environment, and connects students to academic and personal support resources, partnering with UNCG’s Division of Student Success to execute these objectives.
Rivera earned a bachelor’s in communication studies, a master’s in adult education, and a doctorate in higher education leadership; the focus of each degree directly informs the work she is now doing at UNCG.
“I seek to help students succeed not just in school but in their everyday lives and careers,” explains Rivera. “Higher education can be a vehicle for students to achieve their dreams and success.”
Rivera’s role as a communicator began as an undergraduate at UNC Wilmington (UNCW). With one bold move — asking the Chancellor for $10,000 — she founded UNCW’s student TV station, originally called Student Body TV, now still in existence as TealTV.
While she initially sought a TV career, Rivera experienced a distinct call toward education and motivating students, which led to student success positions at Howard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also launched an educational TV talk show called “Step N2 College” to aid parents and students with college preparation.
Innovative Programming Driving Student Retention
Rivera helps UNCG nursing students work through barriers at school as well as encourages them to home in on how they will positively impact the world with their nursing degrees.
“I also navigate personal or financial concerns with students,” she says. “Some of our students work full time, have children, or struggle with time-management skills.”
One example of support is the Student Enhancement Framework she created at the request of Dr. Yvonne Eaves for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
“The framework helps students study using active recall,” she says. “I conducted research on how the brain best retains information for long-term retention, and grades have improved since implementation.”
Rivera specifically supports the Prelicensure Entry Level Master of Science in Nursing (PELMSN) students, offering academic tutoring to this cohort and BSN students to develop study skills.
She’s provided training to the “Conway Tutors,” a special group of tutors funded by the Bedford Fall Foundation who work with Conway Scholars. She also created the Peer Success Leaders Program, in which seniors serve as peer mentors to juniors, and juniors provide mentorship to direct admit and potential nursing students.
Eaves describes Rivera as an energetic presenter who instantly gains students’ interest. “When Dr. Koyah held an information session to start the peer leadership program, her goal was an audience of 12 to 15 students, but 60 students showed up and became peer leaders,” says Eaves.
Study nights Support Students
Initiated by SON Dean Debra Barksdale in December 2025, the 2nd Shift Nursing Student Study Nights came under Rivera’s leadership this April.
Supported by members of the VACC Clinic, Counseling & Psychological Services, SON faculty and staff, and SON advisory board, the event includes extensive academic support from faculty plus food and drink, yoga classes, and an expressive art station to support wellbeing and mental health.
“The 2nd Shift Study Night strives to be a unified force to support nursing students holistically during finals,” Rivera says. “Across both events, over 200 students participated.”
A Global Message of Empowerment
Rivera uses faith-based principles to encourage student success. Her “ministry” helps students globally gain happiness and success by using the vehicle of education to fulfill their dreams and connect to their purpose.
“I am called to travel the world to inspire students to live their dreams,” she says. “Everyone is a superstar when you do the thing you are called to do, the thing you love.”
And Rivera is literally inspiring millions. Her recent TikTok videos went viral, reaching college students around the globe. “I’m so happy to extend the motivation and empowerment work that I do here at UNCG to a global social media audience,” she says.
Strengthening the Nursing Pipeline
Rivera’s focus on retention addresses the national nursing shortage by helping to keep nursing students in school so that they graduate and become part of the nursing workforce, an effort UNCG’s School of Nursing takes seriously. With initiatives like the Peer Success Leaders Program, she is not only ensuring nursing students graduate but is also developing future nurse leaders.
She guides students to understand “how education allows them to use their unique gifts to positively impact the world and serve humanity.”
Retention is not just about academic strategies, according to Rivera. It’s also about keeping students’ spirits high.
“I empower, motivate, and inspire students to be great in the world,” she says.
Written by Amy Burtch, AMBCopy
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
