Marlena V. Santana

Marlena is a proud native New Yorker of Dominican descent. In her role, she plays a pivotal part in supporting both students and agency partners within the Family, Youth, and Children Services field. Marlene holds a B.A. in Public Administration and Sociology from Alfred University. During her tenure as a Family Advocate at Legal Aid, she was inspired to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University’s School of Social Work, specializing in Social Enterprise Administration. With over 15 years of dedicated experience in social justice, Marlene has implemented critical programming and court advocacy initiatives for the incarcerated population. She has also been a strong advocate for survivors of intimate partner violence, particularly those who are defendant-victims. In her work, she has forged vital community partnerships, notably supporting young adults on Rikers Island. Additionally, she serves as the Finance Manager on the board of Young Life in Jamaica, NY, a faith based nonprofit organization that serves youth. She also provides trauma-informed counseling to individuals reflecting her deep commitment to holistic care and empowerment.