Melissa Gonzalez is the Bilingual Study Interventionist for Women SHINE, where she empowers underserved communities with compassionate care and trauma-informed practices. She is dedicated to fostering resilience and growth in the individuals and families she serves. A graduate of UCLA and UC Berkeley, Melissa holds a Masters of Social Welfare and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare with a minor in Education. Her extensive experience in mental health, program development, and education enables her to connect deeply with others and advocate for impactful change.

In her role, Melissa facilitates psychoeducational sessions that build emotional resilience and interpersonal skills, while also providing crisis intervention and culturally sensitive support. She contributes to research focused on women with HIV and individuals managing co-occurring disorders, ensuring excellence through training, community outreach, and adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys Pilates, walking her dog, and savoring a good cup of coffee.