Veronica Ocasio, a proud daughter of Chicago's Humboldt Park community, is a passionate advocate with a deep commitment to community service. Raised by her Puerto Rican single mother, Veronica learned the value of giving back from a young age, attending rallies for social justice and equality with her mother.
After graduating from Roberto Clemente High School and earning a History degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Veronica confronted challenges faced by students of color. This led to her commitment to making a difference as an educator, and she assumed roles as a Childcare Supervisor, bilingual childcare welfare specialist, and Master High School Teacher.

After receiving a fellowship to obtain her Master’s in Urban Planning and Public Policy, she worked on ensuring affordable housing and economic development opportunities for her community. Veronica's impactful work garnered attention, and she played a pivotal role in securing $200 million in investment opportunities for Humboldt Park as the District Director for the 4th Congressional District of Illinois.
Veronica's commitment to making a difference extends beyond local boundaries, as demonstrated by her humanitarian trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Her passion is to create a lasting legacy through her involvement in developing the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. She dedicated 20 years as a volunteer before officially joining the team.

In 2022, Veronica became the Director of Education, Exhibitions, and Programming at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC). Since then, she has played a pivotal role in doubling the museum's attendance and expanding community engagement through innovative programming. Under her leadership, NMPRAC has introduced initiatives such as the Archiving Symposium, an Oral History Project, Museo Movíl, and the Artists' Collective while providing comprehensive educational programming.

Veronica has also collaborated with esteemed institutions like the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP), El Museo de Arte de Ponce, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College and other national arts and cultural organizations while championing opportunities for emerging artists to showcase their talents.
In 2024, Veronica took on the responsibility of overseeing the updating of NMPRAC’s archiving and collections management. She’s leading the implementation of a new Collections Management System (CMS) and the critical process of digitizing the museum's archives and collections to meet the American Alliance of Museums' accreditation standards. In addition, she will oversee NMPRAC’s new archive and collections off-site office. Veronica is a proud member of the American Alliance of Museums, the Society of American Archivists, the Oral History Association, the Puerto Rican Studies Association, and the Alliance of Midwest Museums.

Alongside her professional achievements, Veronica is pursuing a doctorate in non-profit organizational leadership, further exemplifying her commitment to advancing NMPRAC’s mission and making a lasting impact.