Marangelie (Mara) Velez completed her master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. Mara is a certified relationship educator with the Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP). Most of Mara’s work has been with English and Spanish speaking couples and providing them with healthy relationship skills and tools through nonprofit work at the Marriage and Family Research Institute (MFRI). Other clinical experience includes working with women in substance use facilities and with children and adolescents of all backgrounds. Her research interests include understanding the role of social isolation on first-generation Latino college students, the effectiveness of relationship education programs, and wellness in the counseling field. Mara is an active member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES).