People

Dr. Cindy Chang, Psy.D.

Cindy Chang, Psy.D. (she/they) is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and director of the Queer Suicide Prevention and Community Empowerment (QSPACE) Research Lab. Their work focuses on suicide prevention, strengthening social connection, and improving mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ communities and underserved Veterans. Dr. Chang completed their doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University, internship at the VA Puget Sound in Seattle, and postdoctoral fellowship at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Dr. Chang's research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and recognized with more than a dozen awards and grants from organizations including the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Clinically, Dr. Chang specializes in delivering evidence-based treatments tailored to each individual's needs. Outside of work, Cindy enjoys crossfit, spending time with loved ones, and savoring great food.

Lysette DeSilva, B.S.

Research Coordinator

Lysette (she/her) graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Developmental Psychology in 2021 and joined the QSPACE Lab in March of 2024. Lysette’s main research interests center on promoting health equity for underserved populations, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in hopes of investigating minority stress experiences and addressing mental health disparities for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those with multiple intersecting minoritized identities. In her free time, Lysette likes video games, drinking coffee, and building custom mechanical keyboards.

Amy Hoang, B.A.

Research Associate

Amy (she/her) graduated in 2020 from UC San Diego with a double major in English Literature and Clinical Psychology. She joined the VA in 2021, where she volunteered as a research assistant while still employed at San Diego Miramar College’s mental health clinic. Since then, she has been involved in VA- and VMRF-funded trials of couple-based, suicide, and PTSD interventions for veterans and their intimate partners.
Today, Amy is a full-time research coordinator in addition to her long-time collaboration with researchers at the QSPACE Lab. She plans to apply to doctoral psychology research programs next fall. In her future work, Amy would like to help address the “gap” between research and everyday people; namely by examining how evidence-based mental health interventions are accessed and delivered under existing systems in the real world, particularly for individuals of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, non-college-educated, and/or low-income backgrounds.

Crystal Hernandez

Research Assistant

Crystal (she/her) is currently a senior at UC San Diego majoring in clinical psychology. She joined the QSPACE lab in September 2024. Her research interests include the implementation and dissemination of evidence based practices, with an emphasis on culturally responsive adaptations. She plans to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology to further explore how research gets implemented into policy across multiple healthcare settings. In her free time, Crystal enjoys long-distance running, scouting brunch spots, and creative writing.

Pets

Azula

Lysette’s cat

Tofu

Crystal’s dog

Meet Our Team