Candidate for
Council-At-Large; Township of Upper Darby

Background & Education:

Sekela grew up in West Philadelphia to two hard-working and dedicated parents who instilled the importance of education and community. She attended Lansdowne Friends' then Friends' Central for her early education and graduated from Philadelphia's Central High School in 1995. Sekela then continued on to Lincoln University where she received her undergraduate degree in Finance & Banking in 1999. Immediately following her graduation from Lincoln University, Sekela was hired by Citifinancial, the consumer finance subsidiary of Citigroup.

While starting a family and working full-time for Citifinancial, as an Assistant Manager performing credit analysis, lending, and collections, Sekela received her MBA from Penn State University in 2003. Sekela and her family relocated to Upper Darby in 2003 when she decided to return to school and pursue her doctoral degree full-time. During this period Sekela worked as a substitute teacher for Norristown School District, Mastery Charter School of Philadelphia, and a summer school teacher in Morrisville School District. She completed her dissertation in 2010 and received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration with a specialization in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from Walden University.

Community Involvement:

Due to the lessons her parents instilled in her, Sekela is dedicated to public service and community involvement, understanding that equitable opportunities for everyone benefit and strengthen our diverse society. She stays active in many community endeavors including being the President of Bywood Elementary's Home & School Association, an active member of Upper Darby School District's PIP committee, and an Auxiliary Member of Upper Darby's Neighborhood Watch Association. Sekela has been on the Election Board for her precinct since 2008 and was elected as a Democratic Committeewoman for Upper Darby in 2010. She is a graduate of Upper Darby Police Department's Citizens Police Academy, a new initiative started by UDPD to strengthen the relationship between community members and the Police Department.

Other community activities include Sekela's participation as a panel judge in the selection of the 2010 Soroptimist Violet Richardson International Award and a presenter at the 2010 and 2011 Career Days at Overbrook High School. She is a member the Board of Directors of the Elvira B. Pierce Scholarship Fund of Overbrook High School and created a nonprofit mentoring program offering free services for adolescent females in West Philadelphia. She received a 2009 Grant from the Philadelphia Activities Fund, a 2009 Grant Award from Women's Way Community Women's Fund, and a 2010 Recognition Award from the Outré Community Outreach Program on behalf of her nonprofit.

Professional Activities:

In addition to being a loving wife and mother of two young children, Sekela teaches in both the Continuing Studies and Business Departments of Harcum College. She also teaches SAT Prep Math courses at Delaware County Community College and works part-time at a nonprofit in North Philadelphia. Sekela is a member of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the National Women's Studies Association (NWSA), and on the Executive Committee of Walden International Corps- Social Changers without Borders.