2020 Lucero Scholar: Kayla Pena

Born in Cambridge, MA. MSW from Simmons University, BS in Psychology from Suffolk University.

My name is Kayla Pena and I identify as a Salvadoran American. What brought me into the Latino Mental Health Program, is my passion for working with the Latinx population and what I believe is the need for more clinicians/providers of color who can address cultural humility from another perspective. Being raised by two immigrant parents, I have been able to see first hand the barriers that this population endures on a daily basis when it comes to access to services, employment, and education. I have been an in home therapist for five years (working mainly with the Latinx population) and have gained a Masters degree in Social Work and this has helped shape who I am as a clinician and motivated me to pursue my Clinical Psychology PsyD to be able to better advocate and support this marginalized population in need and give back to my community. This is why I’m here and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to continue working on this goal.

Entering Class of 2020 Clinical Psychology PsyD