Gabriela, who joined ICOY in 2021, serves as the Director for the Trauma Initiatives team. In this role, she oversees all aspects of trauma-informed care services across IDHS contracts and external organizational contracts. In addition to providing technical support and delivering trauma-informed training to service providers and staff throughout Illinois, Gabriela spearheads strategic initiatives aimed at advancing the quality and reach of trauma-informed services.

Graduating from Cornell University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish, Gabriela brings a rich academic background to her work. At Cornell, she served as a Research Assistant for the Person and Context Lab, formerly known as the Personality, Attachment, and Control Lab, within the Department of Psychology. Her research primarily delved into cognitive processes, examining how controlled versus automatic and unconscious mechanisms influence individuals’ perceptions and experiences.

In her spare time, Gabriela enjoys exploring the city, traveling, spending time with family, and watching baseball games.