Dena Blank is the Vice President of Alumni Affairs for Teach for America, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting some of our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort.

Formerly, Dena was the executive director of GirlVentures in San Francisco, a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire adolescent girls to develop and express their strengths.

Dena received her bachelor's degree in political science, graduating with highest honors from Emory University in 1993 and a master's degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1998. Her previous professional experiences include serving as the associate director of development for Pacific Crest Outward Bound School and as program specialist at the National Economic Development and Law Center.

Dena also has worked as an independent consultant, specializing in the curriculum development, management, strategic planning and development of nonprofit organizations, particularly those working with youth. Her clients have included Girls Incorporated, Yosemite National Institutes, Forward Progress and Meet the Wilderness.

Dena loves to practice her Italian with anyone who will listen and has traveled throughout Southeast Asia on foot, bicycle, yak, bus, camel, rickshaw, boat, tuk-tuk and elephant!