[4] Vela obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor concentration in French from Goucher College in Baltimore.

She later obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law.

Vela first commenced her legal career working for the Law Firm of Martínez, Odell, & Calabria.

Vela began her tenure as First Lady of Puerto Rico after her husband, Luis Fortuño, was sworn in as Governor in 2009, following the 2008 general elections.

10th (2001): Sila María and María Elena González 11th (2005): Luisa Gándara 12th (2009): Lucé Vela 13th (2013): Wilma Pastrana 14th (2017): Beatriz Rosselló 15th (2019): Jorge Díaz Reverón 16th (2021): Caridad Pierluisi 17th (2024): Fabiola Ansótegui