Marisa Ruiz Asari

marisa.asari@berkeley.edu
(510) 410-9297

EDUCATION

University of California Berkeley

B.A. Public Health, Community Health & Development / Pre-Med | 2016

WORK EXPERIENCE

Institute of Urban and Regional Development | UC Berkeley

Project Manager [Project Policy Analyst 2] | May 2016 - Current
As Project Manager at IURD, I oversee health equity and urban planning related projects in the Bay Area, CA;
Nairobi, Kenya; and Medellín, Colombia. Responsibilities include drafting and designing research reports and
seminar curricula, supporting work plan development and oversight, leading teams of graduate and
undergraduate student researchers, and coordinating with community and institutional partners.
Relevant projects & partners:
• Health in All Policies (HiAP) Evaluation | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | City of Richmond, CA
Collaborating with a team of 8 researchers and city staff to evaluate the impact of the first municipal
HiAP ordinance within city departments and the greater Richmond community. Responsibilities include
designing final evaluation report. (Project in progress)
• Global Exchange for Building Equitable & Healthy Communities | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Coordinated and co-facilitated two workshops in Berkeley, CA and Nairobi, Kenya as part of a growing
global network of healthy community building practitioners including over 30 participants from the U.S.,
South Africa, Kenya, and India.
• Alta Bates Hospital Closure Health Impact Assessment | City of Berkeley, Mayor's Office
Conducted preliminary research, literature review, and evaluation of statewide health data to assess the
impacts of the proposed 2030 hospital closure. Responsible for final report synthesis, focused on health
equity, vulnerable populations, and emergency department access across the Bay Area. Work and key
findings featured in The San Francisco Chronicle, Berkeleyside and KQED.
• Collaborative planning in Nairobi's informal settlements | SDI Kenya | Muungano | Nairobi City County
Co-led a team of 7 graduate student researchers and developed a rapid health impact assessment
including analysis of household health survey data and mapping of environmental and climate change
related risks. Findings will inform an integrated development plan for 3 informal settlements and over
100,000 households in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Seminar Course: Cities for Life - Lessons from Medellín | Former Mayor of Medellín, Aníbal Gaviria
Partnered with former Mayor Gaviria to co-facilitate a Spring 2017 weekly seminar on lessons from the
transformation of Medellín for violence reduction and improved urban health. Developed content and
coordinated logistics for 12 seminar sessions, 4 international guest lecturers, and 20 students.

Rubicon Programs | Civic Engine

Data Analysis Consultant | Rubicon Health Survey | Sept 2017 - Aug 2018
• Analyzed health and wellbeing survey data in Stata.
• Visualized data and key findings to inform learning on self-rated health outcomes and social
determinants of health, evaluate the impact of Rubicon programs on employment and wellbeing, and
advocate for increased program resources.
Roots Community Health Center | Civic Engine
Design Consultant | Social Vital Signs Project | Feb - Aug 2017
• Designed a "Social Vital Signs" patient-provider wellness tool with Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, which was
implemented at the Roots Clinic in Oakland to assess baseline social determinants that shape health
outcomes for formerly incarcerated and predominantly low-income patients of color.
Ambiciti App
Communications Consultant | Oct 2016 – Mar 2017
• Designed two promotional videos for the U.S. launch of the Ambiciti App that models air and noise
pollution and allows users to map healthier walking routes.
• Developed informational brochures for community partners and information sessions.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Design Consultant | Community Benefits Evaluation | May 2016 - Jan 2017
• Supported final report synthesis, data visualization, and analysis of SFPUC Southeast Community
investments including 4 community benefits program areas: Environmental Justice, Workforce
Development, Education, and Place Based Revitalization.

RESEARCH

Law and Governance Research Group – Rethinking School Lunches Oakland

Research Assistant | Feb – Apr 2017
• Supported school lunch observations and compiled research notes for two elementary school sites
• Developed info-graphics for research presentations to stakeholders and funders

Center for Global Healthy Cities

Undergraduate Research Assistant | Jan – Aug 2015
• Conducted background research and literature review on the physical and social transformation of
Medellín, Colombia, and contributed to a working paper on lessons for healthy city planning from
Medellín (publication in review).
• Spent June – Aug 2015 based in Medellín conducting interviews with five community-based
organizations.
Institute of Urban and Regional Development
Undergraduate Researcher | Aug 2015 – May 2016
• Developed maps and info-graphics on issues of inadequate water, sanitation, and infrastructure from
community collected data in the Mukuru Informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya.
• Responsible for synthesizing research from six global organizations into one Situational Analysis report
documenting existing conditions in Nairobi's informal settlements. The report acted as the basis for a
Special Planning Area (SPA) designation passed by Nairobi City County in 2017.

TEACHING

UC Berkeley School of Public Health • PH150E Community Health & Development

Guest Speaker | 2017, 2018
• Gave two guest lectures in a core public health course of 250 UC Berkeley undergraduates, focused on
lessons for healthy city planning from Medellín, Colombia.
Health Equity Action Lab (HEAL)
Student Facilitator | Jan 2015- May 2016
• Co-founded the HEAL DeCal and undergraduate seminar, a course aiming to introduce
undergraduates from all majors to the concept of health equity and related job opportunities outside of
the traditional healthcare field.
• Coordinated course logistics and led class discussions on structural inequality, racism, and health for
approximately 30 seminar meetings and 45 students over three semesters.

UC Berkeley Department of Integrative Biology • Biology1B

Undergraduate Student Instructor | Aug – Dec 2014
• Assisted teaching ecology, evolution, and plant biology material to a class of 30 undergraduate
students.
• Prepared laboratory activities and supported students with study guides and exam preparation.

LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

UC Berkeley Residential and Student Service Programs

Resident Assistant | Aug 2013-June 2016
• Responsible for 40-65 students per semester for 6 consecutive semesters.
• Provided one on one support and conflict management for residents.
• Planned and implemented 18 community events.
La Clínica Student Alliance (LCSA)
Founder and Co-President | Sept 2014- Dec 2015
• Developed a volunteer pathway program between Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) La Clinica de La
Raza and UC Berkeley students.
• Program resulted in over 30 undergraduate volunteers participating in semester long internships in medically
underserved communities in the East Bay Area.

Clínica Alta Vista, Oakland

Assistant Health Educator | May 2014 – Oct 2015
• Provided consultations for teenage patients seeking birth control in English and Spanish.
• Assisted physicians and medical assistants with note taking.
• Designed health education material for teen clinic bulletin boards.

SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Language
• English (Native speaker), Spanish (Native speaker)

Applications & Programs

• Microsoft Office
• Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
• Stata
• Tableau

Interests
• Social and environmental justice, racial equity, climate change, urban planning, governance and public policy,
graphic design, photography, illustration