I am deeply rooted in my culture, constantly surrounded by vibrant colors, spicy foods, and reverent traditions. Growing up, in my community, crossing the US-Mexico international border for a few hours to buy fresh fruit from the favorite fruteria was nearly a daily event. I went to quinceañeras rather than sweet-sixteens and played in the mariachi as a guitarrista, a traditional Mexican musical group that plays customary live music. Patrons would vivaciously dance during cheerful songs and take a hefty drink during a somber serenade. Anticipating a career in music, I entered college as a music major; however, I quickly discovered that I was more curious about evoking emotions and behaviors through music, rather than honing my strum. With a newfound fascination in understanding what arouses emotions and behaviors, my journey towards becoming a psychologist began.

Immediately following my undergraduate, and following a new passion for research, I enrolled in a master's program at Texas State University and earned my MA in Psychological Research in 2016. I conducted research in HIV, chronic illness, and substance use. I also was an instructional assistant to several undergraduate research methods class and taught two undergraduate statistics laboratory classes. Here, I primarily worked with Dr. Ty Schepis and Dr. Krista Howard. Outside of my education, I worked as a direct care provider at a residential treatment center for adolescents and children.  

In my final year of education at Texas State, I accepted an offer to join the PhD Clinical Psychology program at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois to continue my research in HIV and substance use. 

I completed my PhD in Clinical Psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2022, with a focus in behavioral medicine research and clinical practice. I primarily worked under the supervision of Dr. Du Bois. I have numerous publications and conference presentations surrounding topics of health and marginalization - with a focus in HIV prevention and treatment. I was also awarded a grant from the American Psychological Foundation to conduct my dissertation - an examination of barriers and facilitators to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among full-service sex workers. 

During my time at IIT, I served as a founding member and president of the colloquium committee to arrange talks of broad interest to the students and faculty. I also served as the APA Student Science Council Health Psychology Representative from 2020-2022. 

I began as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at CSUSB in Fall 2024. 

I teach/taught the following courses in the MS Clinical/Counseling program: 

• Psychopathology

• Community/Public Mental Health

• Substance Abuse: Detection, Assessment and Treatment

I teach/taught the following courses in the undergraduate psychology program

• Abnormal Psychology