Dr. Gina Vanegas - Mental Health Educator & Researcher

Dr. Vanegas is a skilled consultant and engaging speaker who is committed to supporting organizations in their quest to create healthy and inclusive work environments by sharing her expertise in the areas of social justice, psychology, and Latinx identity. Dr. Vanegas is passionate about democratizing mental health education and infuses the latest research findings into her presentations in a way that’s relatable. As an immigrant and first person in her family to earn a Ph.D., she has come to learn what it takes to overcome adversity. She is on a mission to deconstruct systems that contribute to the mental health challenges that BIPOC, women, and first generation professionals experience in the world of work. Dr. Vanegas holds a Ph.D., in Counseling Psychology from University of California, Santa Barbara. As a scholar, she has co-authored several publications and presented her research on behavioral change patterns at various professional conferences. Dr. Vanegas speaks on mental health topics such as decolonizing self-care, Trauma-Informed teaching practices, and promoting children’s resilience in the face of loss, among others. She also leverages her education and expertise working with the Latinx community to share with audiences impactful information about the rich diversity that exists among the Latinx community, cultural values and norms, and access & utilization patterns of the Latinx community in social services. In the corporate arena, Dr. Vanegas leverages her expertise in qualitative data analysis and social justice to creatively solve organizational challenges. In the public sector, she helps non-profit organizations attract funding by better conveying the impactful work they do through the use of qualitative data. In her off time, you can find her hiking or dancing as she believes in the power of finding joy in and outside of work.