Berkeley College Director of Continuing Education Named Board President of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the Association for Talent Development
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
NAMED BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY CHAPTER
OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT
for professional growth
Photo Caption: The Northern New Jersey Chapter of the Association for Talent Development (NNJ-ATD), an organization dedicated to workplace learning and performance for professional growth, recently appointed Maria Rivera as its 2026 Board President. Pictured (L to R) are outgoing Board President Kristen Illes, Founder and Leadership Growth Advisor, 3D Leadership Solutions; Rivera, Director, Continuing Education, Berkeley College; and President-Elect Joseph Alvarez, Learning and Development Business Partner, Columbia Bank, who will serve as Board President in 2027.
The Northern New Jersey Chapter of the Association for Talent Development (NNJ-ATD), an organization dedicated to workplace learning and performance for professional growth, recently appointed Maria Rivera as its 2026 Board President. Rivera serves as Director of Continuing Education at Berkeley College. She is a resident of Rockaway, NJ.
“We are thrilled to welcome Maria Rivera as our new NNJ-ATD Board President,” said outgoing Board President Kristen Illes, Founder and Leadership Growth Advisor, 3D Leadership Solutions. “Maria brings exceptional talent development expertise and a deep commitment to our Chapter’s mission of advancing learning and performance in the workplace. I am confident that under her leadership, our Chapter will continue to grow and provide outstanding value to our members and the broader Northern New Jersey talent development community.”
The NNJ-ATD offers educational programs, networking opportunities, and other resources to its members. The Chapter is part of the international Association for Talent Development, the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals, with members in more than 100 countries.
As Board President for the 2026 term, Rivera will provide vision, structure, culture, and environment to the NNJ-ATD in order to meet its mission and goals while adhering to the bylaws of the organization and the laws of the State of New Jersey.
“As Director of Continuing Education at Berkeley College and incoming President, I am thrilled to continue collaborating with the Board and Chapter members to build a dynamic, innovative, and inclusive organization that advances talent development and provides value to every member,” Rivera said. “As we move forward together, I am energized by the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Rivera has more than 10 years of experience in higher education, training and development, management, sales and technology, project management, web development, and video production. She leads Berkeley College Continuing Education efforts for professionals seeking to advance in their careers or transition into new careers by enrolling in flexible Continuing Education courses and Certificate programs.
Rivera holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor of Arts from Lehman College, and a Data Visualization Certificate from the NYU School of Professional Studies. She is a certified New York State/New Jersey Real Estate Instructor and a Certified Scrum Master (CSM®).
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with nearly 4,000 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans for 12 consecutive years. Berkeley College is also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2026 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
The mission of Berkeley College is to empower each student to achieve lifelong success.
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