Committed to advancing educational equity, Veli Waller has dedicated her career to helping students access opportunities for academic success. She joined SRA in 2017 and began managing SRA’s Rising Stars program in 2018. In 2024, she stepped into the Director of Programs role, where she continues to expand SRA’s impact and leads initiatives to support students in achieving their college and career goals.
Before joining SRA, Veli worked in the College & Career Advising field as an independent college advisor, partnering with nonprofit organizations to provide services to students and parents. In 2012, she joined the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, spearheading a district-wide financial aid campaign that significantly improved financial aid application completion rates, ranking among the highest in California. Earlier in her career, Veli spent 15 years in the Supplemental Education Industry, managing and providing professional development to tutoring centers throughout California. She earned her BA in Sociology and Business from UCLA, her teaching credential from Cal State East Bay, and a certificate in College Admissions Consulting from UC Berkeley Extension.