William Noe Vela, aka Billy, M.A., Director

Email: wvela@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-1480

Billy Vela was born and raised in Highland Park, Los Angeles. He just recently joined El Centro as the Director in May 2005. His parents are from Guatemala, Central America and he attended Franklin HS, as well as Occidental College with a BA in Psychology. Afterwards he went to NYC to attend Columbia University, Teacher's College and received a MA in Student Personnel Administration with an emphasis in Multiculturalism. From 1996-2000 he worked at UC Berkeley as a Resident Director, and from 2000-2005 he served as the Director of Chicano Latino Student Services at Loyola Marymount University. He has been involved with numerous Diversity & Leadership Training sessions, workshops and retreats. As a student leader on campus he was highly involved in various cultural organizations/clubs, lived in the Multicultural Residence Hall for three years and studied abroad in Mexico.

He greatly enjoys a variety of music genres to fit the various moods of life. On the side, he occasionally DJ’s and enjoys playing basketball on the weekends, while also exploring the various cultural resources/events and diverse restaurants that Los Angeles offers. He is the oldest sibling, with three younger sisters and a wonderful mother. And his family, friends, and faith are very important to him, while finding opportunities to make a difference in this world truly guide his life.