Dana M. Burley was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey. Dana attended Bonsall Elementary School for kindergarten and attended St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral for first to eighth grades. She attended high school at St. Joseph High School in Camden and Pope Paul VI High School in Haddon Twp, NJ, where she received her high school diploma in 1982. Dana obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. in May, 1987.
She began her professional career in 1988 working at Flex/Data Corporation in Cherry Hill as a Data/ Computer Operator. In 1990, Dana began working for the New Jersey General Assembly as a Research Assistant in the Assembly Democratic Office (ADO). Dana excelled over the years by becoming a Research Associate, Senior Research Associate, Assistant Director of Research and Director of Research.
On January 10, 2006, under the Speakership of Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts, Dana was sworn in as the Clerk of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 212th Legislative Session. On January 8, 2008, she was again sworn in as the Clerk of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 213th Legislative Session; and on January 12, 2010, under the Speakership of Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver, the first African American Female Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, Dana was sworn in as Clerk for the 214th Legislative Session.
On May 8, 2007, Dana was elected to her first term as the Ward 1 Councilperson in the City of Camden.
In April, 2010, Dana was selected to be placed in the Cambridge Who's Who Registry, an affiliation and networking tool which includes over 400,000 talented individuals who are valuable resources in their respective industries. Dana is a former member of the South Jersey Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the Camden City Democratic Committee, Camden County Democratic Committee and actively involved in several local charitable efforts. In her spare time, Dana enjoys reading, shopping, hanging out with family and friends and playing with her dog Maxwell. An avid Philadelphia Sports fan, Dana also enjoys attending most local collegiate and professional sporting events.