Rachel Villagran joined AIRnyc in July 2026 as a Community Health Worker. In her role, she works directly with families to help them navigate challenges that impact their health and well-being. She is particularly focused on supporting residents facing environmentally triggered health risks, including challenges related to housing conditions and mold exposure.

Growing up in the South Bronx, Rachel's participation in community health fairs inspired her to pursue a career dedicated to advancing health equity and expanding access to resources for communities in need.

Prior to joining AIRnyc, Rachel worked as a Research Assistant with the New York University Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, where she supported a program providing free food boxes to families with children in the South Bronx.

Rachel earned her degree from New York University, where she studied Global Public Health, Anthropology, and Medical Humanities. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Outside of work, Rachel's interests include infectious disease control and statistics. In her free time, she enjoys book illustration, practicing martial arts, and spending time at the beach.