Marisa is Founder and CEO of Connect the Dots, bringing over a decade of knowledge on stakeholder and public engagement practices. As a Fulbright scholar, she earned an MA in Design from Technological University Dublin and later received a Knight Foundation award for civic engagement. She currently teaches a course on Participatory Cities at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also earned her BA in Urban Studies & English. As Founder, she established CtD as a WBE/DBE firm specializing in strategic stakeholder and public engagement, serving clients based in sectors such as urban planning, transportation, community development, and more. She leads the vision and mission of a diverse core team to consult with intergovernmental and transportation agencies, local and state governments, and nonprofits to employ creative, innovative public engagement strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Philadelphia’s amazing food scene, throwing clay on a pottery wheel, and strengthening her rock climbing skills.