Cynthia Psencik was born and raised in New York City. Her parents are from the Dominican Republic. In 2004, Cynthia began working for the Archdiocese of New York as the Assistant in the Hispanic Ministry Office. Through her ministry with youth in retreat centers and especially through her involvement in the First Encuentro on Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry, she fell in love with youth ministry and pursued a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Hispanic Ministry from Fordham University. She then became the Associate Director for Youth Ministry, and served as the Director for the Office of Youth Ministry for 4 years before joining GIVEN staff. She previously served as the Vice President of La RED – National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana and is a member of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). She is married to her husband Evan and lives in Austin, TX.

“Do not be afraid to set your sights higher, to allow yourself to be loved and liberated by God. Do not be afraid to let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit. Holiness does not make you less human, since it is an encounter between your weakness and the power of God’s grace.” Gaudete et Exsultate, 34