Studying families, fighting for children: Family science shapes ASU grad's path to divorce law
Natalya Castillo, Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2025 graduates.
In divorce law, people tend to think first of the parents: How will assets be divided? Who gets to live in the house? Who gets custody?
But for Natalya Castillo, a graduating family and human development student from Sierra Vista, Arizona, the foremost concern is the children. What kind of influences are they growing up with? How will this traumatic experience affect their life outcomes?
“Children often grow up hurting because of things they grew up dealing with or didn’t realize weren't normal, weren't good for a child's development,” she says. “And so we grow up with these bad habits. We don't know how to relate to people, manage our emotions or even understand ourselves.”
That’s the impetus behind the well-rounded set of credentials Castillo is taking from the graduation stage this fall: a Bachelor of Science in family and human development, a minor in justice studies, a minor in sociology and a certificate of socio-legal studies.
It’s a solid foundation for her next steps, as she plans to begin a master’s program in sociology from the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics next semester, followed by law school in 2027.
“I feel like with my law degree I can make an impact on children sooner before they have to go through such traumatic events,” she says. “I want to help them see that, 'Okay, what's happening isn't the best, but it doesn't need to control me throughout my entire life.’”
Castillo, who also plays semi-professional volleyball, has put that motivation into practice through internships that serve people in need, such as through CARE 7, a city of Tempe program for community members facing crisis. During this internship, she helped with home visits, hygiene kits, emergency hotel placements and orders of protection.
She also earned a highly selective internship with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona, where she rotates through chambers and gains exposure to federal practice as the only intern from the state.
Her most influential experience, however, she credits to a course on the death penalty with Susan Corey, a practicing capital defense attorneyA lawyer who defends individuals charged with crimes that are punishable by the death penalty. and faculty associate for the School of Social Transformation. Corey showed her what legal advocacy can look like in real life, letting her shadow lawyers and participate in mock trials.
“During our first week of class, Professor Corey was actually in Alaska for a case! She's just an amazing woman,” Castillo says. “She told me: ‘Don’t limit yourself to one aspect of law.’ Her class opened my eyes to a whole different side of the law that I never even thought about.”
As she prepares for her law school journey, we caught up with Castillo to learn more about her time at ASU.
Question: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
Answer: I feel like I’ve learned so much here! But I’m amazed by how many resources that we actually have. When I got here, I felt like I was very closed off. I felt alone, and I didn’t have any friends. But if you really look and talk to some of your professors, there’s so many resources that you just never know about. Research, libraries, programs and so many clubs. It’s endless.
I also play semi-professional volleyball, and I thought, “How am I going to fit volleyball to my schooling?” But I found that there are so many options for you to continue to do these sports and hobbies you love alongside your schoolwork. And I met so many lifelong friends that way.
Q: Shout out a professor, advisor or someone else who made a big impact on your journey — what did they teach you?
A: Lisa Barth is my academic advisor. She is just amazing and always available when I need her. I always know that I could turn to her, and she would be there for me.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Like a rose that grows in concrete, something very beautiful can grow out of something very hard and cold. You can make anything for yourself. Persevere, because nothing is permanent.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share that we didn’t cover?
A: Just how blessed I am to know that I’m here, and how much of a privilege it is to be here. I don’t take this for granted. Every day, I just wake up and I can’t believe I’m living my blessing, and I know that not everyone gets to have this opportunity. Thank you to everyone who has been by my side.
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