Dena Valin Malakian has been the Associate Director of Bright Futures for
Youth since 2013. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County and North Lake Tahoe from 2004 to
2013. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Child Abuse
Prevention Council of Western Nevada County, is a commissioner on the
Nevada County Adult and Family Services Commission and is on the
Membership Committee for the Center for Nonprofit Leadership of the Sierras.
Dena is a Nevada County native who moved back in 2004, and she and her
family live in Nevada City. She has 25 years of experience developing
programs to support youth, leading organizations, and working collaboratively
with other organizations to build resilient youth and families. She wants “youth
to feel accepted and loved for who they are, wherever they are so they can
have a positive self-image and treat themselves and others with kindness and
respect.” Dena has a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and a
Master’s degree in Social Ecology, both from the University of California,
Irvine.