Place of Birth: St. Croix
Party Affiliation: Independent
Term: First

Nellie Rivera-O’Reilly was born and raised on the island of St. Croix. She is a graduate of the St. Croix Central High School and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Finance from the University of Phoenix. She is a certified professional in Human Resources and has fifteen years of experience working as a real estate paralegal.

Nellie serves as a member of the St. Croix Environmental Association and until recently served a second term as President of Hispanos Unidos of the Virgin Islands. During her first term as President of Hispanos Unidos (2000-2003) she was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the Virgin Islands Resource Center for the disabled. With this grant, Hispanos Unidos was able to open the doors to the first Hispanic Community Technology Center providing after school programs for students as well as “English as a Second Language” and computer courses for adults.

In her capacity as President of Hispanos Unidos she was successful in writing and securing several grants which resulted in various community programs targeting students and the general public. She developed and nurtured partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, both on and off-island, to secure support and funding for ongoing activities at the technology center. She spearheaded numerous events for the cultural and educational enhancement of Hispanics in the Virgin Islands and established an important partnership with the St. Croix Avis which resulted in the Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Supplement. Nellie enjoys writing and has published numerous Spanish and English articles in the St. Croix Shopper and local newspapers. She created the Spanish Newsletter “Dame un Break” using it as a tool to inform and educate the Hispanic community.

Nellie is a staunch advocate for excellence in education. She is a proponent of gender based education and supports measures that raise the standards for teachers and students alike.  Moved by the systemic problems plaguing our public education system, she ran for the 15^th Virgin Islands Board of Education in 2004. During her term on the Board of Education, she successfully lobbied members to consider Single Sex Education as an option to narrow the achievement gap between boys and girls. She was also instrumental in restructuring the terms of board officers reducing the time served from four to two years. This, she argued, allows for personal growth among members giving others the opportunity to hold leadership positions.

Nellie has a solid track record of service to her community. She has made volunteerism a priority in her life spending the last fifteen years serving on a number of non-profit organizations. She is a former member of the V.I. Commission on the Status of Women and the V.I. Humanities Council Board. She also served as President of the Estate Profit Action Committee and Movimiento Latino en Accion from 1996 to 1998. She served as member of the Business and Professional Women Organization and was selected the winner of the “Young Careerist Speak Off” competition in 2000. In addition, in 1999 she was nominated by the Delegate to Congress, the Honorable Donna Christian Green, for the “Young American Congressional Award”.

Nellie is also a dedicated wife, mother and daughter. Born in Estate Profit, she is the daughter of Francisco Rivera Navarro and Diana Cruz Rivera. Nellie enjoys spending time with her husband John and their two sons Stephen and Brandon.  Her favorite hobbies include baking and running.