“It is not our differences that divide us. It is out inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” ~Audre Lorde
Dr. Leyla Perez-Gualdron is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Psychology Department at the University of San Francisco, California. She obtained an M.A. and Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from Boston College, as well as professional licensure in Psychology from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Caracas, Venezuela. Dr. Perez-Gualdron is trained and certified by the National Career Development Association as an Instructor for Career Development Facilitators.
Prior to her current role, she completed an internship in psychology at Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School within the linguistic specialty track in the Latino Mental Health Program. Dr. Perez-Gualdron has provided mental health and counseling services in a variety of settings including urban public schools, hospitals, and community centers in the United States and Venezuela. She has facilitated school-based interventions focused on career development and post-secondary planning, racial and gender identity development groups, and support groups for immigrant children. In addition, Dr. Perez-Gualdron has provided outpatient and inpatient counseling to diverse populations, with an emphasis in Latina/o immigrant clients.
Dr. Perez-Gualdron has taught a variety of graduate level course including Counselling Theory and Practice, Career Counseling, and Lifespan Development Counseling. Her research and scholarly interests include social justice orientation, resistance to oppression, sociopolitical development, racial identity, multicultural counseling, and educational/civic outcomes in youths. Dr. Perez-Gualdron is also well versed in a variety of research and statistical approaches; she often uses longitudinal quantitative research design and methodology.