She was born and raised in Watts where she attended Grape Street Elementary School, Markham Middle School, and King/Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science. She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, Javier and Maria Gonzalez. Dr. Gonzalez continues to reside in Watts and is happily married. She hopes to develop into an independent researcher focused on place-based initiatives that address health disparities and social determinants of health in low-income minority inner-city neighborhoods. She would like to utilize research as a tool for advocacy in these neighborhoods through policy, planning, and public health.