Telena Cruz Nelson Senator Guam Legislature
Telena Cruz Nelson is a two-term Democratic senator currently serving as Vice Speaker and Majority Leader of the 35th Guam Legislature. She is also the Chairperson on the Committee on Education, Air Transportation, and Statistics, Research, and Planning. Senator Nelson was first elected to the 34th Guam Legislature in the 2016 general election. Although a fresh face in local politics, she received the fifth highest vote count, capturing the hearts of 16,922 voters. When she ran for re-election in 2018, she welcomed more supporters and received the second highest vote count with 20,335 votes. She is seeking re-election in the 36th Guam Legislature. Telena Cruz Nelson was born in Portland, Oregon, the eldest of five children. She is the daughter of Guam natives Theodore Dwight Borja Nelson and Stephanie Cruz Nelson. Her paternal grandparents are Theodore “Ted” Sgambelluri Nelson, who previously served as Vice Speaker of the Guam Legislature, and longtime educator and retiree and senior citizens advocate Gloria Camacho Borja Nelson. Her maternal grandparents are Jose Quitugua Cruz and Asuncion “Connie” Lazaro Cruz. She was raised in a Roman Catholic family. Her maternal grandmother Connie was instrumental in the pilgrimage that brought Santa Maria Kamalen, Our Lady of Camarin, to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. Telena and her grandmother Connie are lectors at their Catholic Church. Telena was heavily involved in sports growing up and made the island’s IIAAG All-Island basketball and soccer teams while attending Bishop Baumgartner Memorial School, Notre Dame High School, and Simon Sanchez High School. At the age of 15, she traveled with her singing group, under instructor AnnaMae Borja, to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City representing Guam. Telena graduated from Simon Sanchez High School and from the University of Guam with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. In 2001, she enlisted as a Combat Medic in the U.S. Army. In 2007, she entered and completed Officer Candidate School to be commissioned as an Officer in the Guam Army National Guard. Later, she attended Basic Officer Leader Course for advancement and, in 2008, successfully completed Signal Corps Basic Officer Leader Course. She served in a combat zone in Afghanistan and deployed as a lone soldier from her Guam company between 2010 and 2011. She currently serves as a Captain in the Guam Army National Guard.
52 | 50 Under 40: Emerging Leaders in the Government of Guam
