Shea O’Neill

Shea manages the majority of U3’s data and analytic needs and works across the company on a variety of projects. With a background in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Shea is able to leverage public and institutional datasets to visualize novel trends, such as where employees and students live and the overall impact on the local housing market. Shea also leads U3’s Buy Local Initiatives, and has helped grow and support local purchasing organizations and initiatives in Buffalo, Memphis, Rhode Island, and Chicago. In 2019, Shea began to expand U3’s external research footprint. He presented novel research on the formation of Anchor Districts at the Coalition of Urban and Municipal Universities and is currently developing tools on how to identify and support small colleges in financial distress.

This work is enriched by Shea’s background in GIS and data management. Shea came to U3 out of University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Master in City Planning with a focus on GIS and Community and Economic Development. Outside of U3 Advisors, Shea continues to grow his knowledge of GIS by teaching graduate level courses at the University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson University.