Willis directs the City and County of Sacramento's Art in Public Places Program. The program is currently overseeing the development of the Sacramento International Airport public art program, an $8 million project and the largest public art project in the county's history.

Willis came to Sacramento after six years of managing the University of Minnesota's public art program where she directed the development and installation of temporary and permanent public artworks throughout the University of Minnesota system, taught public art, and developed a public art minor program at the university. Among other writings, her essay on the state of public art education in the U.S. was published in Public Art by the Book by Americans for the Arts. Willis is co-editor of Public Art Practice, published by Routledge NY. Willis managed visual arts programming for the City of Fairfield, CA from 1998–2009. She founded and directed the city gallery and the city's public art program, with an emphasis on exploring community identity through temporary and permanent public artworks and exhibitions. She received undergraduate degrees in art history and business administration from California State University, Chico. Willis is on the advisory board of FORECAST, Public Artworks, a St. Paul nonprofit organization that publishes Public Art Review and supports and advocates for public art nationally.