Kyrene Pineda is a third year student at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Psychology with a specialization in Clinical Psychology. As a Filipino-American and aspiring clinical psychologist/psychiatrist, Kyrene's commitment to youth mental health is shaped by personal experiences navigating cultural stigma and finding support through mentorship.

Drawn to the Thriving Asians community due to her passion for creating culturally responsive spaces where AANHPI youth feel heard, understood, and empowered, Kyrene hopes to help students build self-advocacy skills and access tools that support their mental well-being.

With a passionate mission to work closely with youth directly, Kyrene has practiced this through extensive mentoring experience, ranging from elementary classrooms, peer tutoring settings, and community-based research projects focused on mental health and social justice. These roles strengthened Kyrene's ability to lead with empathy, cultural humility, and an understanding of diverse student backgrounds, driving her to continue pursuing this mission professionally.

At Thriving Asians, Kyrene serves as a core team member of the Youth Mental Health Leadership Programs. As an Intern on the Youth Programming Team, she supports and guides high school students through their implementation projects and growth journeys. She facilitates group sessions, community hours, and youth event activities.

Kyrene also serves as lead Intern of the Legislative Advocacy Team. She organized student-led outreach & advocacy for National AANHPI Mental Health Day - especially supporting the second annual proclamation in New York State.

Kyrene continues to grow her leadership at Thriving Asians as a Senior Intern. She looks forward to deepening her leadership and research skills while contributing meaningfully to youth-centered mental health initiatives.