Gustavo G. Cortina-Rodríguez was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Health Communication, a Doctorate in Public Health with a focus on global health, a Doctorate in Psychology with a focus on health, and a Postdoctorate in Research Psychology. He is a health educator certified by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) and a prevention specialist. He has been a spokesperson and advocate for public health issues such as: use and abuse of alcohol and other psychoactive substances, suicide, anxiety, depression, health disparities, social justice, and human rights. As an international speaker, he has been able to create networks in different countries including: Colombia, Peru, Switzerland, Sweden, India, Mexico, the United States, among others.
He is currently Associate Director of the Department of Social Sciences at UPRM and Assistant Professor with duties in the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences. He was Director of the Quality of Life Office, Title IX Coordinator, Director of the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities at UPRM, and was Special Assistant to the Rector on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He also collaborates with the psychological foundations courses in the Teacher Preparation Program. He is co-representative of the UPR before the Ibero-American Network of Health Promoting Universities.
He is the founder of the Humanization in Health movement. He leads an educational crusade on the topics of anxiety and mental health, suicide, accessibility to health services, bullying, sexual violence and other public health issues. He has published two books and is the proponent of a subdiscipline called Compassionate Humanitarian Psychology.