Marco Tavanti

Marco Tavanti

Professor

Program Director
Full-Time Faculty
Downtown Campus, 101 Howard St., Office 216
(415) 422-4288

Biography

Dr. Marco Tavanti is a professor of Leadership and Sustainability at the University of San Francisco’s Masagung Graduate School of Management. He serves as Program Director for the Master in Management - Sustainable Business Management (MIM-SBM) and Faculty Lead for the Sustainability in Management Education (SiME) Impact Area. With over 30 years of global experience, Dr. Tavanti has led programs across Europe, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, focusing on sustainable development, indigenous human rights, and urban poverty reduction to promote socially inclusive and circular economies.

Grounded in Jesuit values, his teaching and research emphasize the common good and service to humanity. As a systems thinker, Dr. Tavanti employs participatory action research and capacity-building strategies to develop cross-sector sustainable business solutions, focusing on leadership development, social enterprises, and tech-driven climate resilience.

He is also the President and co-founder of two international NGOs, the Sustainable Capacity International Institute (SCII-ONLUS) and the World Engagement Institute (WEI), advancing human rights-based sustainable development worldwide. A frequent collaborator with United Nations agencies and initiatives, Dr. Tavanti is an international expert and consultant. As a scholar-practitioner, he actively promotes the UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally.

Expertise

  • Sustainability management
  • Sustainable development leadership
  • Social economy organizations
  • Indigenous & human rights
  • Refugee education & services

Research Areas

  • Business ethics & social impact
  • Critical & inclusive education
  • Sustainability impact & reporting
  • Systems thinking & social innovation

Appointments

  • Faculty Lead: Sustainability in Management Education (SiME Impact Area)
  • Program Director, Master in Management, Sustainable Social Impact (MIM-SSI)

Education

  • PhD, Sociology, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, 2001 (with distinction)
  • MA, Sociology, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, 1999
  • MA, Cross-Cultural Theology, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, 1996
  • MDiv Master in Divinity, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, 1994
  • BA, Philosophy, Gregorian University-Studio Teologico Fiorentino, Florence, Italy, 1991

Prior Experience

  • Program Director, Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA 2014-2024)
  • Director, Social Innovation, University of San Francisco's School of Management 
  • Director, Refugee Service Management Program, University of San Francisco
  • Chair, International Public Service, DePaul University's School of Public Service
  • Director and Instructor, Chiapas Immersion Program, Loyola University Chicago

Awards & Distinctions

  • The John Miller Mission Support and Advocacy Award., 2016 and 2024
  • Post-Sabbatical Merit Award, 2022-2023
  • The Ignatian Service Award, 2019
  • Excellence in Scholarship Award (Full Professors), 2017

  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty and Student nomination. DePaul University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Science (LAS), 2006, 2014 

  • Wicklander Business Ethics Fellowship Award. Institute for Business and Professional Ethics (IBPE), 2006

  • Latino Students Appreciation Faculty Award, Latin American Studies, DePaul University, 2003

  • Arthur J. Schmitt Fellowship Award. Loyola University Chicago Graduate School, 2001

Selected Publications

Access and Marco's full list of publications can be found on his website.