Mara Botman
Mara Botman is the Executive Director at Vivo Foundation, a new Chicago-based foundation focused on education equity. Previously, she spent over a decade at the Circle of Service Foundation. She is passionate about increasing equity and excellence in the early childhood through career continuum. She currently services on the boards of Braven and Kids First Chicago.
Mara has been deeply engaged in the launch of several organizations and initiatives. She co-founded and co-leads Forefront’s College and Career Access, Persistence and Success, and was deeply engaged in the launch of the Partnership for College Completion, the Discovery Partners Institute’s Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative, and Community Leadership Fellows.
Mara holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business with a concentration in Behavioral Economics and Entrepreneurship and holds an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Social Policy and Political Science. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children.