Cristian Hernandez
CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ (he/him) is a second-year graduate student in the Master of Social Welfare program at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. An incoming Policy Fellow within the UCLA LPPI Research Department, Cristian is passionate about bridging the gap in accessible mental health resources for communities of color.
At UCLA, Cristian serves as the co-chair of Luskin Pride, where he promotes education, social justice, and activism around issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Last academic year, he served as an MSW intern with WISE & Healthy Aging, overseeing the quality of care of older/dependent adult residents in long-term care facilities through unannounced monitoring visits, community information sessions, and investigations into cases of abuse.
Cristian grew up in Pacoima, California, as the proud son of immigrant parents from El Salvador. A first-generation college graduate of UCLA, he earned his B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Chicana/o/x Studies. As a McNair Scholar, he conducted research on the resilience and coping strategies of Central American unaccompanied 8 asylum-seeking minors adjusting to life in the United States. In his free time, Cristian enjoys watching science fiction and tear-jerking movies at the theater.
