Executive Director for Latinas Unidas por Un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.)

Melissa Cano Zelaya has been the Executive Director of Latinas Unidas por Un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A.) since January 2015. L.U.N.A. is one of seven culturally specific agencies in the state of Iowa, serving victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in the Latino community. 

Cano Zelaya has a degree in Human Services from Upper Iowa University and has approximately thirty years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the human service field. As L.U.N.A.’s executive director, she is responsible for the daily operations of the organization including staff supervision, programmatic and financial oversight, community outreach, and serving as a spokesperson for the organization.

Cano Zelaya is very passionate about serving the Latino community. And she has facilitated many trainings/presentations on cultural competency, substance abuse prevention, how to effectively use interpreters, domestic violence/sexual assault, and more.