Staff: Dayana Vela

Dayana Vela is a social work intern and a native Houstonian. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2024 and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at the University of Houston.

Dayana has more than 10 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings, including childcare, substitute teaching, residential care, and Child Protective Services. Through these experiences, she has developed a strong interest in supporting children and families in need.

In her free time, Dayana enjoys gardening, baking sourdough, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. She looks forward to being part of the Friends of the Children team over the next year and continuing to learn and grow through her internship experience."