Danny Villalobos
Danny Villalobos
Class Year
’24
Current home
Chicago, Illinois
Major(s)
Accounting
Current Position
Graduate Student in the Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) Program at University of Illinois Chicago
Danny Villalobos ’24 drew on the skills and experiences he gained at Carthage as an accounting major with a minor in economics to pursue a unique career path in city planning. He is now a graduate student in the Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) program at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Since beginning his graduate studies, Mr. Villalobos has made an impressive impact. He’s written two editorials published by top Chicago newspapers — one in the Chicago Tribune and another in Crain’s Chicago Business — focusing on housing, zoning, and how improved neighborhood planning can strengthen Chicago’s Southwest Side. He’s served as project manager for his studio course and helped lead the creation of an economic vitality plan for Oak Park, Illinois. He’s also completed a planning and zoning internship with the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois. To date, he believes his most meaningful project has been creating a comprehensive plan for his home community of Garfield Ridge, Illinois.
Outside of school, Mr. Villalobos stays involved in the community, volunteering with local groups like the Southwest Collective and Abundant Housing Illinois to stay engaged in housing development conversations and neighborhood matters. He is an active member of his neighborhood civic league, offering planning insight on local issues and supporting community-driven problem solving. He’s also spoken at Chicago’s City Council in support of housing initiatives.
Mr. Villalobos continues to stay in contact with Carthage professors and has presented at the College’s Young Alumni Panel. “I try my best to stay connected with the professors who shaped who I am today,” he says. “Ty played such a big role in my path, and staying in touch feels like a small way of honoring that.”
What have you enjoyed most about your career?
“I enjoy working directly with the people who live in the neighborhoods that I’m studying. Whether it’s talking with residents in Garfield Ridge, walking the blocks of Oak Park, or helping residents understand zoning in Mount Prospect, the work feels real when I can see how planning decisions affect everyday life. Being able to combine technical planning ideas with tools that can help a community move forward is incredibly rewarding.”
How did Carthage prepare you?
“Carthage’s accounting, finance, and economics classes made me very comfortable handling and interpreting numbers, and that’s carried through directly into my planning work. A lot of economic development is numbers-based, so when I came across development pro formas, income statements, cash-flow statements, time-value-of-money concepts, and mortgages, everything felt familiar instead of overwhelming.”
“Carthage also taught me a lot about myself. Through small classes, close relationships with professors, and the freedom to explore interests outside the standard curriculum, I learned how to take risks, follow my curiosity, and trust my instincts. I discovered strengths I didn’t know I had, especially the confidence to pursue paths that weren’t obvious at the time.”
How has your liberal arts education benefited you?
“As a liberal arts college, Carthage really fostered and supported my intellectual curiosity. Every professor, including those in accounting and economics, actively encouraged me to take on projects that didn’t fit with the curriculum. I still remember doing an independent study with Professor Jennifer Clark, in which I worked on a report assessing Illinois’ economic strengths. Looking back, that project was the start of my interest in economic development and urban planning, and it was Carthage that gave me the space and encouragement to explore it.”
Why did you choose Carthage?
“T lake view was what sold it for me, but having a liberal arts education was just as important. I wanted small classes where it was easy to build real relationships with professors and classmates. Back then, I just had a gut feeling that Carthage was the right place for me. I’ve never regretted that choice.”
What opportunities were made possible because of your Carthage experience?
“I always wanted to do something educational abroad, so I took advantage of Carthage’s J-Term to finally make it happen. During my senior year, I joined Professor Matthew Zorn’s class trip to Nicaragua for a science credit. That trip moved me in a way I didn’t expect and remains the single best memory I have from my time at Carthage.”
What Carthage professors played a part in your success and how?
“I credit a lot to professors Jennifer Clark, Chao Zheng, Julie Dawson, Barbara Jewell, Jon Mrowiec, Matthew Zorn, and Mark Mrowiec, and staff member Chris Grugel. They really shaped my interests, encouraged my curiosity, and helped create the memories that led me to where I am today. Toward the end of my time at Carthage, I wasn’t entirely sure what my next step should be. Even after applying to UIC, I didn’t know if I would actually enjoy planning. But these faculty members actively supported me, believed in my potential, and pushed me to pursue the opportunities that ultimately set me on the path I’m on now.”
What role have the values in Carthage's mission, "Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service — Together" played in your life?
“Carthage’s mission is like my life motto. We can only be as strong as the most vulnerable among us, we can only be as wise as the questions we ask, we can only be as happy as our genuine care for others, and we can only feel fulfilled when we do it all together. That’s exactly how I try to live out my life in everything I do, as a planner, but also as a person who understands how important it is to show up for others. The Carthage mission of listening, caring, asking questions, and lifting the voices around us represents the same values guiding my work today. It’s who I am as a person.”
What's your favorite Carthage memory?
“My J-Term trip to Nicaragua was the peak of my Carthage experience. I learned so much on that trip and met so many wonderful people. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way and reminded me how big the world is and how much of it I still wanted to understand.”
“I also really enjoyed taking Christians and Muslims: Conflict vs. Dialogue with Professor Fatih Harpci. That class sparked a lasting curiosity about world religions and played a real role in shaping my love and connection to the Bahá’í Faith.”
Tips for current Carthage students?
“College moves fast, but the community you build will stay with you forever. So get involved, make friends, have fun, and create memories. But also, fall in love with learning. Do this by making the degree your own, exploring every interest, asking every question, and actively participating, even if you answer incorrectly. You will have a much more rewarding and meaningful time when you push yourself academically and socially.”