Meet the Team

SALUD Directors

Bianca T. Villalobos, Ph.D. (she/her/ella)

CO-DIRECTOR
Dr. Villalobos is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at CSUN. Her research focuses on studying help-seeking behaviors for professional mental health services. Her focus is on identifying factors that influence the decision-making process (e.g., cultural values, stigma, and external barriers). Dr. Villalobos is passionate about training the next generation of culturally informed and bilingual researchers and clinicians.

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Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Ph.D. (he/him/él)

CO-DIRECTOR
Dr. Hernandez Rodriguez is an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at CSUN. His research focuses on pathways that lead to maladjustment in Latinx youth. Recently, his focus has been on understanding how trauma and stress (e.g., immigration) impact Latinx youth and families and their ability to access mental health services. In addition to his work with youth, Dr. Hernandez Rodriguez is interested in diversifying the psychology workforce by mentoring and training diverse students.

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CSUN SALUD Lab Research Assistants

Katherine Gonzalez

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Katherine is studying Psychology at California State University, Northridge and is an undergraduate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. She is interested in mental health disparities that impact her local community and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology. She enjoys going to concerts and reading in her free time.
Becky Mondragon

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Becky Mondragon is studying Psychology at California State University, Northridge and is an undergraduate research assistant in the SALUD LAB. She is interested in cultural neuropsychology, specifically understanding the role of culture on cognitive processing and functioning. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology. She enjoys reading and playing with her six-year-old terrier mix in her free time.
Esai Padilla

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Esai is a Junior at CSUN, majoring in psychology and minoring in management, and is an undergraduate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. His research interests are the destigmatization of therapy and psychology in Hispanic communities, especially men, and facilitating the growth and recognition of Hispanic female voices within their communities. Ultimately, he hopes to address the male suicide epidemic. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology and become a Licensed Psychologist. Esai enjoys reading, writing, singing, and spending time with his family, friends, and dogs in his free time.
Andrea Hernandez, B.A.

POST-BAC RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Andrea graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, in 2023 and is a post-baccalaureate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. Her research interests focus on cultural responsiveness, as well as the socio-cultural and socio-economic factors that influence individual well-being, particularly within marginalized children and families. Andrea also has clinical experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and aims to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her pet and engaging in fitness activities.
Brianna Flores, B.S.

POST-BAC RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Brianna Flores earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA in 2023, with minors in Brain and Behavioral Health and Evolutionary Medicine. She is currently a post-baccalaureate research assistant in the SALUD Lab. She began her college journey at Santa Monica College, where she served as President of Psi Beta, the national honor society for psychology students at two-year colleges. She led two research studies there during Covid-19 on learning barriers for students of color and an AI intervention for anxiety and suicidality, presented at the Western Psychological Association conference. At UCLA, Brianna conducted research in the Neurosurgery and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences Department where she investigated spinal neuroplasticity and helped develop a digital mental health app to improve suicidality outcomes in college students. She aspires to become a physician-scientist specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, focusing on public health and bridging research with clinical care. Her diverse experiences in community and biological psychology have fueled her passion for integrating clinical practice with research, along with community-based research. In her free time, Brianna enjoys playing and coaching sports and spending time at the beach.