Dana Martin

Dana L. Martin is a youth advocate and post-secondary options counseling professional with special focus on access to higher education for low income, inner city youth. Working with a variety of youth ranging in ages from 10 – 21, Dana has always been hands on in the battle of equal opportunity for higher education.

In her early professional career she worked with children and youth at various nonprofit organizations organizing educational programing, offering career advising and case management services to at risk youth. She used her drive to help youth “realize their potential” to begin individual post-secondary counseling, free of charge. The need for college guidance within inner city Philadelphia was great. She decided that this would be her battle to fight.

As a member of both the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and its Pennsylvania counterpart (PACAC) she has created session topics bringing statewide attention to the issue of transition from high school and college retention for underrepresented students on college campuses. She has been asked to speak at numerous college readiness events for youth and shared resources/best practices with other Philadelphia college counselors in an effort to spearhead change in the college advising realm.

Dana L. Martin is currently a College Advisor for a large urban charter management organization where she provides college guidance and runs a comprehensive college readiness program for 7th – 12th grade students in addition to teaching a yearlong Senior Seminar course helping facilitate the college process for graduating seniors. She also is co-director of PACAC Camp College which serves underrepresented high school students from across the state of Pennsylvania in a residential pre-college summer program. Dana is founder of Dana's Resources an outreach network dedicated to promoting available educational, employment and community resources in and around the Philadelphia area for underserved youth, job seekers and parents. Dana is a graduate of Philadelphia’s Central High School (260) and Temple University where she gained a BS in Education. She uses her inner city and educational background to help guide and mentor youth as they embark on the college process.

Dana is the proud wife of Mr. Tyrec T. Martin and mother of two precious daughters Melody and Jaleya. She actively mentors several young adults throughout the city of Philadelphia.