[1][2] Velez's mother remarried and the family lived in South Hackensack before moving to a trailer park in Moonachie, New Jersey.
[2] After graduating from Drew, Velez spent a year working in the underwriting department of an insurance company.
Velez was unhappy in private practice and decided to move to government work after reading a newspaper profile of Bill Waldman, then the longest serving Commissioner of the Department of Human Services.
Velez responded to the idea of working with people who needed help and began seeking out a job in the government.
[2] Governor Jon Corzine appointed Velez the State Human Services Commissioner in February 2007.
[4] As Commissioner, Velez was responsible for running the Department of Human Services, New Jersey's largest agency.
Critics of the closings, including disability advocates and family members of patients, argued the process was rushed and influenced by politics.
Upon her resignation, Governor Christie praised Velez as "one of the smartest and most dedicated people" he knew in government and a "tremendous advocate in our efforts to deliver effective, cost-efficient, and high quality services to the most vulnerable New Jerseyans.