Since she became the CEO in 2018, Dessert has led The Center through a phenomenal growth phase. Under her leadership, The Cener increased its budget from $6.5M to 15.5M annually, grew its service visits to more than 90,000 annually, and now has seven facilities across San Diego County. Along with The Center’s team and Board of Directors, in 2019 The Center engaged in an in-depth community-driven strategic planning process with the participation of over 2,000 community members.

Dessert led The Center in expanding its housing services to a full range housing continuum that includes the first shelter in San Diego County for LGBTQ+ youth, additional permanent supportive housing and prevention programs and services for youth, adults, and seniors, and ongoing services and advocacy for LGBTQ+ community members who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. The Center also embarked on its first-ever cross-border immigration campaign which provided life sustaining humanitarian relief to LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive asylum seekers and their families at the border. Dessert spearheaded opening the South Bay Youth Center, the first dedicated drop-in space for LGBTQ+ youth in the South Bay region of San Diego County. She led the opening and expansion of the emergency overnight shelter for youth from four to over 40 beds, in partnership with YMCA and San Diego Youth Services.

Under her leadership, The Center enhances and sustains the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+, immigrant, and HIV communities, serving community with undaunted courage and inspirational authenticity.

Prior to joining The Center as CEO, Dessert served as the Executive Director of Immigration Equality, a national organization focused on LGBTQ+ immigrant rights. She worked closely with the Obama Administration, as well as local, state and national organizations working at the intersection of the rights of the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities.

Dessert served in the California Department of Justice in the Office of the Attorney General as a Deputy Attorney General in the Public Rights Division, where she worked with then-California Attorney General and former Vice President Kamala Harris’ executive team.

Born and raised in El Centro, CA, Dessert has deep roots in the San Diego area. She previously was The Center’s Policy and Community Organizing Coordinator, San Diego’s field director for the No on 8/Equality for All campaign, and an organizer for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. She completed her JD at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, and earned her BA at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

She has served as a Commissioner for both the Healthy California for All Commission and the Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission. Dessert is the Chair of the Engage San Diego Advisory Board and serves on the Board of Directors of CenterLink, an international non-profit association of LGBTQ+ centers. She is married to Lisa Valenzuela and they have two children.