Dr. Villa is recognized as an educational leader with the commitment, technical, and interpersonal skills to inspire and work collaboratively with others in order to implement current and emerging exemplary educational practices. Children with intensive cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges have been included as full members of the general education community in the school districts where he has worked and with which he has consulted.

Dr. Villa has been a classroom teacher, special education administrator, pupil personnel services director, and director of instructional services. He has presented at international, national and state educational conferences and has provided technical assistance to the United States, Canadian, Vietnamese, and Honduran Departments of Education, and to University personnel, public school systems, and parent and advocacy organizations. Dr. Villa has authored 4 books and over 70 articles and chapters and is known for his enthusiastic, humorous style of presenting.