Carmen Hansen Rivera is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis. Her significant involvement in the Indianapolis community has provided her with the ability to understand and structure public/private partnerships. In addition to researching and developing multicultural services for health and social service providers, she coordinated and implemented the bilingual multicultural educational program for Region V Head Start programs.

Appointed by Senator Lugar, Carmen represents the state of Indiana as a member of the U.S. Senate Republican Task Force of Hispanic Affairs where she has served as chair of the Health and Human Services Sub-Committee. Mayor Stephen Goldsmith appointed Carmen to the Indianapolis Economic Development Corporation, the Cable Franchise Board and the Race Relations Leadership Network.