Past Life:

Marisa has spent much of her career focused on community health programs and pathways for economic mobility both in Boston and abroad. Prior to joining the Shah Foundation, Marisa served as Chief Operating Officer of the Lewis Family Foundation where she oversaw grant making to over 50 organizations in Boston, driving strategic planning and organizational development to further economic and educational advancement for communities of color. Marisa previously worked with children and families at Friends of the Children-Boston, on impact and evaluation at Roca Inc., and spent three years working on HIV prevention and treatment programs in Mozambique with both local community organizations and with the CDC. Marisa has spent much of her career focused on community health programs and pathways for economic mobility both in Boston and abroad.

Marisa currently serves as Co-Vice Chair of Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology's Board of Trustees. In 2020, Marisa was named one of the Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 professionals. She holds a Master’s in Public Health in Global Health from Boston University School of Public Health, and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and History from Denison University.

Favorite Thing About My Job:

The opportunity to work on projects that could either be proof of concept and brought to scale or inform larger policy in the areas of education equity, economic mobility, food insecurity, public health, and mental health. Having worked on holistic approaches to change, it’s exciting to be part of a team that approaches individual and community change from multiple angles.

Personal:

Marisa lives in Chelsea with her husband Mike, son Arev, and their dog Sarge. Originally born in Colombia, Marisa is adopted and grew up in Acton, MA. As a proud public education graduate, she is a staunch believer that equity is the key to ensuring access to high quality education regardless of background or zip code. In her spare time, Marisa and her husband Mike love to travel abroad and will try any new food.