Sebastian Villa Betancur

Sebastian Villa is an assistant professor in the Division of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Operations at Leeds and is a faculty affiliate at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute.

Driven by a passion for equity and justice, Villa employs empirical and behavioral methods to support vulnerable populations worldwide. His research focuses on improving the operations of businesses at the base of the pyramid and nonprofit organizations, helping small business managers enhance profitability to support their families’ financial and emotional well-being. He also explores innovative strategies for nonprofits to strengthen their impact on local communities. 

Before joining the University of Colorado in 2025, Villa held positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of New Mexico, Indiana University, The University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Los Andes. He holds a PhD in operations management from the University of Lugano and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in engineering from the National University of Colombia.