Jesse Bernal

Jesse Bernal is an Adjunct Professor at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA, affiliated with both the School of Cultural and Family Psychology and the School of Education, within the Department of Early Childhood Education. They teach across both the Pasadena and Online campuses, contributing to early childhood education and mental health training.

Education:

• MA in Counseling Psychology, Argosy University, Los Angeles, CA (2010)
• BA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI (2005)

Jesse Bernal specializes in infant and early childhood mental health, with a strong focus on trauma-informed approaches, social/emotional development, and inclusion of children with diverse learning needs. Their work emphasizes caregiver wellness and mitigating the long-term effects of early childhood trauma, grounded in values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Jesse has served as a research associate to prominent experts including Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Barbara Stroud, enhancing their scholarly credibility. They provide national consultation and training for Head Start, Early Head Start, and other early childhood programs, and are a sought-after speaker in the field.

Professional Roles and Grants:

• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA)
• Consultant and trainer for federal and state early childhood programs
• Nationwide presenter on trauma-informed early education

Labs and Teams:
Jesse collaborates with national early childhood education initiatives and contributes to interdisciplinary teams focused on mental health consultation and staff development in early learning environments.