Tena is a native of Monroe, Louisiana. She attended Northeast Louisiana University from 1973-1977. She has been married to Kelvin Dunn for 35+ years and has two children. She worked for the State of Louisiana as an Eligibility Worker for Department of Family Services and a Support Enforcement Specialist for 18 years. She taught school at Excelsior Christian School for 10 years and has been a case manager at the health center since October 2007.