Shayla Rivera

Shayla Rivera’s accomplishments are many: NASA aerospace engineer and rocket scientist, corporate trainer, TEDx speaker, TV and radio host, comedian, actor, writer, producer, and Professor of Practice with the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, just to name a few.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rivera grew up with an avid interest in human behavior, science, machinery, and fixing things. She attended Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, along with many credits in her other passion, psychology. She worked at McDonnell Douglas Space Systems at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for five years as part of the NASA space shuttle and space station programs.

Rivera left NASA to pursue her abiding interest in psychology, which led to a career in technical sales that morphed into becoming a corporate trainer as a facilitator of life-changing seminars on stress management for executives. Speaking to companies around the country, Rivera discovered her comedic skills. Encouraged by many of her clients, she signed up for a weekend seminar on stand-up comedy, at the end of which she performed a five-minute routine. It was a personal turning point. “I knew I’d found what I was looking for,” Rivera recalled.

Almost immediately, Rivera became a regular at comedy clubs nationwide. In addition to stand up, Rivera has also performed a one-woman show, hosted a TV series, and been a guest performer on a variety of television shows.

She has been speaking and performing in both English and Spanish for 27 years and has a broad appeal to men and women of all backgrounds and ages. Her clients around the world include Fortune 500 companies, national and regional organizations, as well as students, parents, and faculty from elementary schools to colleges, winning a multitude of awards.

Rivera says, “My number one goal is to inspire through laughter.” She has seen first-hand – and is proud of – the impact that the Latino population and culture have had on all levels of American corporations, organizations, and education.

Currently, Rivera brings her expertise in self-development and awareness to the engineering students at Texas A&M as a Professor of Practice and as Director of ENGR[x], a new program that provides undergraduate engineering students with professional skills and experiences beyond their engineering degree requirements, making them more attractive to employers.