Destiny Gonzalez was Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Frey-Gonzalez discovered her passion for science during a transformative high school field trip to the Valles Caldera. Inspired by this experience, she volunteered for the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Project, leading peers in water sample collection and data analysis. In her senior year, Frey-Gonzalez devoted over 200 hours to a service project at the Museum of Southwestern Biology's Division of Mammals.

Gonzalez attended Lewis & Clark (L&C) College in Portland, Oregon, as a first-generation college student, earning a bachelor's degree in environmental studies. At L&C, she took on the role of President of the Natural History Club, overseeing mammal specimens and their accompanying data. Gonzalez further expanded her curatorial skills as a Curatorial Assistant on campus, orchestrating exhibits in the college library's atrium. Additionally, she worked as a Laboratory Preparator for Dr. Greta Binford's Invertebrate Zoology course, managing teaching collections and guiding students in curation projects.

After earning her Bachelor's in Environmental Studies, Gonzales opted for a gap year to explore her personal interests. During this time, she worked in the hospitality sector, taking on various roles, such as hostess and bartender at several restaurants around the Portland area.

Currently mentored by Dr. Joe Cook, Gonzalez is gaining invaluable field and laboratory experience in his Lab. Her master's focus spans museum education, management, and pathogen research. She aims to bridge the gap between public-facing and research-based science museums and centers, particularly in her hometown.