A tenured and award-winning professor at UC Santa Barbara, Dr. Rios once stood on the edge of fatalism as a high school dropout and juvenile delinquent. Defying the odds, he earned his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and became one of the nation’s leading researchers on at-promise youths, resilience, and educational transformation.

Today, Dr. Rios partners with school districts and superintendents nationwide to dismantle systemic barriers and ignite new pathways to prosperity, well-being, and academic success for at-promise students and their families.

A sought-after keynote speaker and trusted advisor, Dr. Rios equips education leaders with actionable strategies to inspire hope, build strong relationships, and create school cultures where all students thrive—especially those growing up in poverty, trauma, or marginalization.

Through compelling storytelling, research-driven insights, and a profound understanding of the challenges educators face, Dr. Rios empowers districts to reimagine discipline, increase engagement, and improve outcomes for young people growing up in struggle. Dr. Rios inspires transformation, and delivers the roadmap to achieve it.