09/16/2024
In celebration of Latino Heritage Month, we proudly recognize Dr. Yvette Flores, a distinguished leader and trailblazer in the fields of psychology, cultural humility, and mental health. Dr. Flores is celebrated both nationally and internationally for her contributions to the prevention and treatment of trauma, as well as her focus on gender, migration, and mental health.
Born in Colon, Panama, and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica, Dr. Flores migrated to the United States in 1965. Her personal experiences with migration inspired her profound commitment to psychology, which she pursued through her education in South-Central Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Community-Clinical Psychology at CSU Long Beach, where she founded a support group for teenage Chicanas.
Dr. Flores completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at UC Berkeley and has since conducted postdoctoral work in health psychology. Her research has significantly advanced our understanding of substance abuse treatment outcomes, women’s mental health, and intimate partner violence. As a Professor of Psychology in Chicana/o Studies at UC Davis for over three decades, she has dedicated her career to promoting family well-being in rural California and exploring the mental health impacts of migration on Mexican men.
A past president of Division 27 of the American Psychological Association (APA) and Section 3 of Division 35, Dr. Flores has also contributed to the Women’s Addiction Services Leadership Institute (WASLI) as a coach. Her commitment to increasing the representation of Latinas in STEMM careers is exemplified by her role as a co-investigator on a National Science Foundation grant.
Dr. Flores’ influential publications, including Chicana and Chicano Mental Health: Alma, Mente y Corazon and Cultura y Corazon: A Decolonial Methodology for Community Engaged Research, reflect her dedication to integrating clinical psychology with Chicano/Latino studies. Her ongoing mentorship of emerging scholars and her dedication to uplifting Chicanas/x/o youth underscore her role as a transformative educator and advocate.
We honor Dr. Yvette Flores for her remarkable achievements and her unwavering commitment to advancing mental health and empowering communities. Her work continues to inspire and make a profound impact on countless lives.
She will be delivering the closing remarks at our gala. You can purchase tickets to experience her inspiring words here: https://auctria.events/lcwcgala2024
