Renee Villarreal is a born and raised native Santafesina and multi-generational Nuevomexicana to parents Rosemarie and Noe Villarreal, alongside her older sister Aimee.
Renee completed her undergraduate studies at New Mexico State University through an academic and athletic scholarship. While at NMSU, she walked on the Division I Women’s Volleyball team, earning a scholarship and playing all four years.
Renee obtained a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from UNM in 2006, and worked as a Community Planner for Santa Fe County over 7 years where she gained valuable experience advocating for traditional and indigenous land-based rural communities. She began working in the philanthropic sector in 2011, and has continued working in philanthropy for the last 6-1/2 years with NewMexicoWomen.Org, a statewide gender justice fund that advances opportunities for women, girls, and gender nonconforming individuals.
Renee decided to run for the Santa Fe City Council in 2015 because she wanted to see more young women of color represented on the Council in the community she was raised. She won 65% of the vote in a four-person race and was elected to the City Council in March 2016. She ran unopposed for a second term and completed her tenure on the City Council at the end of 2023.
During her 8 years serving on the SF City Council, she sponsored legislation to strengthen the city immigration Sanctuary policy; championed the High-End Excise Tax for Affordable Housing and other housing and homelessness equity issues; advocated for the creation of an Office of Equity and Inclusion, led legislation to hold LANL and affiliated entities accountable for clean-up and environmental responsibilities; co-chaired the Community Health and Safety Task Force in support of alternative responses and approaches to the health and public safety of our community; and supported other policy measures and worked on community issues with an eye towards racial and gender equity, inclusivity, and transparency.
Renee is a proud 2018 graduate of the Emerge NM program.