This spring, SDSU Online Graduate Alejandra Quezada found herself in a full-circle moment, graduating in the same Viejas Arena where she stood two years ago at Convocation as a new student going back to college after a break.
After 23 years of living in the United States, she became a permanent resident, and in the spirit of welcoming new opportunities, she decided to make her dreams of working in public health a reality.
Alejandra Quezada
Her desire to create meaningful work with public health initiatives motivated her to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science Online, all while balancing a full-time career, motherhood, creative projects, and personal development.
She got to celebrate her graduation this spring alongside the same strong support system and cohort class that has helped make this dream achievable.
Alejandra shares the same frivolous dedication, ambition, and persistence as so many community members at SDSU Online, returning as a student while juggling a career and family to make their goals possible. Her journey marks incredible growth, determination, and defiance.
We have kept up with her throughout her degree program since starting in the fall of 2024, learning about her achievements, memories, hard work, and challenges along the way of this life-changing journey.
We caught up with Alejandra for Commencement to reflect on her capstone project, experiences, growth, and obstacles throughout her time with SDSU Online.
What achievement have you been most proud of in your academic journey with SDSU?
The achievement I am most proud of is my capstone project. It gave me the opportunity to apply MPH competencies while strengthening my collaboration and research skills. I conducted a mixed-methods needs assessment of HIV patients receiving services at the Kern County Public Health Department clinic. It was a challenging experience that pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but I was able to produce meaningful work that could support and improve services for the organization.
What was one of the biggest challenges you faced in your academic journey?
One of my biggest challenges during this journey was balancing the demands of school with my responsibilities as a mom and a manager overseeing multiple grants during a time of reduced public health funding. Navigating competing priorities while adapting to funding uncertainties was exhausting at times, and there were many moments when I had to sacrifice personal time to meet both academic and professional responsibilities. However, the experience strengthened my resilience, time management skills, and ability to lead under pressure. I was also fortunate to have a strong support system of family, friends, and colleagues who encouraged and supported me throughout the last two years.
What was your favorite memory with SDSU Global Campus?
My favorite memory with SDSU Global Campus was attending convocation two years ago and then returning to the same arena to graduate. It was a full-circle moment that reminded me how far I had come. Being surrounded by my friends and family while celebrating such an important accomplishment made the experience incredibly meaningful.
What was your capstone experience, and how has it impacted you as a professional?
For my capstone, I worked with clinic services at the Kern County Public Health Department, which is also my current employer. The experience allowed me to expand my professional network and gain exposure to services outside of my usual area of work. It also strengthened my confidence in conducting needs assessments and applying public health research methods in real-world settings. Overall, it helped me grow professionally and reinforced my passion for community-informed public health work.
How do you plan to use what you learned in your degree program in your professional career?
I plan to continue using what I learned to design and improve programs that are grounded in evidence-based interventions while also centering the voices of the communities we serve. One of the biggest lessons from my program was the importance of developing programs with communities, not just for them, to ensure services are effective, informed, and responsive to their needs.
What advice would you give to someone considering going back to school online?
I would encourage anyone considering going back to school online to first evaluate their support system, their motivation, and what they are willing to sacrifice to achieve their goals. Going back to school is not easy, but it is absolutely possible with determination and support. I would also recommend gaining some professional work experience before pursuing a master’s degree because it helps make the concepts more applicable and meaningful in real-world situations.
To follow Alejandra’s journey from start to finish, see her blog posts featured in these articles.
