Bio
Dr. Christina Vela Profile
Dr. Christina Vela, DPP Chief Executive Officer St. Jude’s Ranch for Children Dr. Christina Vela, Chief Executive Officer of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, has more than two decades of professional and progressive human and social service experience that includes developing and administering foster care, homeless and supportive services to children, youth, transition age-youth and their families. She has worked at the non-profit level as the Executive Director and the Chief Program Officer for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, a Manager for the Clark County Department of Family Services, Social Services Program Specialist for the State of Nevada and a Program Specialist for the Federal Administration for Children and Families-Children’s Bureau in Washington DC. More recently, Christina has been the Coordinator for the State of Nevada Coalition to Prevent the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Christina holds her Doctorate in Public Policy and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is a proud alumnus of Emerge Nevada, Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2013, Jameson Fellows and Clark County Leadership Academy. Additionally, Christina is a National Board Member for The Family Focused Treatment Association was a member of the Board of Trustees for the CASA Foundation of Las Vegas and led St. Jude’s Ranch for Children to receive the Governor’s Point of Light Bronze Medal for Volunteerism. Christina was recognized in 2020 with the NAWBO Women of Distinction Award and the Vistage Excellence Impact Award and in 2018 with Vegas Inc.’s Women to Watch coveted award. Most recently, Christina was honored with the 2021 Humanitarian of the Year, Angel Award from Vegas Inc
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