Mari Villa
Research Specialist
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About
Maribel (Mari) Villa earned her B.A. from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, with a major in Criminal/Social Justice and minors in Social Work and Human Services. After spending more than 10 years in corporate America, she returned to school to further her education and pursue work more closely aligned with her community-centered values.
She went on to complete her Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she concentrated in community development. Growing up in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood shaped her interest in understanding neighborhood disinvestment, gentrification, and the impacts of urban change on longtime residents. Her research and professional interests include immigration, racial equity, and community engagement.
Now serving as a Research Specialist at the Great Cities Institute, Mari is committed to work that strengthens communities through equitable planning, capacity building, civic engagement, and spatial analysis. Her role reflects her continued dedication to developing skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), community development, and participatory planning as part of her broader goal of supporting neighborhoods like the one where she was raised.
Mari is also a member of Sigma Lambda National Sorority, Inc. and was a founding member of the Lewis University chapter, established in May 2009.