May 27, 2024
Carla Hill-Deguzman

After several attempts at pursuing a bachelor’s degree, Carla Hill-DeGuzman’s perseverance will pay off this spring as she completes her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. 

“I’ve faced many difficult challenges returning to school after 15 years of raising a family and a lot of life changes,” she said. “It’s never too late to come back.” 

Hill-DeGuzman reached out for help on campus, and she found TRiO Student Support Services as well as other campus support teams. 

“Carla knew that this time she was not giving up,” said TRiO SSS Academic Advisor Marsha Bond-Nelson. “By standing up for herself and embracing what it means to be a Warrior, Carla will leave her legacy at Stan State.”    

Originally from San Leandro, Hill-DeGuzman said she chose to attend Stan State for the smaller class sizes and geographical location. A deciding factor was also affordability, the beautiful campus and personal recommendations from alumni. Over her time here, she learned that education is never complete.  

“Life still has a lot left to teach me if I continue to be open to the lessons,” she said.  

After graduation, Hill-DeGuzman plans to advance her career working locally with children and families who have special needs or have been impacted by trauma. 

#StanGrad File

Name

Carla Hill-Deguzman 

Hometown

San Leandro , CA

Degree/Credential

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

What memories stand out most from your time at Stanislaus State?

“Making memories with my classmates and seeing them become my friends is what I’ll miss about Stan State. Another memory that stands out is making the Dean’s List every semester!” 

Which faculty or staff member had the greatest impact on you, and why?

“Assistant Professor of Sociology Della Winters had the greatest impact on me, both as a professor and as my major advisor. She is passionate about the courses she teaches and lectures in a relevant way. She is always helpful, responsive and thorough; you can tell that she genuinely wants to see her students succeed!  

Marsha Bond-Nelson from the Trio SSS program is also someone who has had an enormous impact on me here at Stan State. I am forever thankful for all the time she has spent advising and encouraging me. She has helped me in numerous ways to complete this step in my academic journey.” 

What advice would you give to current and future students?

“Do not be shy during your professor’s office hours even if it is just to ask a question. They appreciate it when we see them outside of class and most professors are flexible and available on Zoom.” 


Note: This article is part of the StanGrad series highlighting Stanislaus State students who are part of the Class of 2024. Read more StanGrad profiles.