Former unhoused teen graduates with master’s degree to focus on housing justice
Rebeca Bonilla. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2025 graduates.
When Rebeca Bonilla of Los Angeles dropped out of high school with a 0.0 GPA, college felt like a world meant for other people. As a teenager, she experienced housing instability, and keeping up with school became so difficult that she stepped away.
But years later, earning her GED cracked open a door — and she decided to see how far she could push it.
Bonilla, a first-generation student, now has a lot to be proud of this semester: She is graduating with a master’s degree in sociology from ASU Online with a 4.0 GPA, valuable research experience through the Arizona Youth Identity Project and a job she cares deeply about.
“I truly believe anything is possible,” she says. “If you have a passion, you can at least try. That belief is what carried me from my GED all the way here.”
Her love of the social sciences began through conversations with a cousin, and the subject stuck with her. Then, when she began taking sociology courses in community college, she met a professor who had attended her same high school — a connection that provided encouragement and helped her imagine herself in academia.
“I knew within my first year that I wanted to be a professor,” she explains. “I loved the ideas, the authors, the conversations about social change.”
For Bonilla, that interest in sociology soon sharpened into a focus on housing justice. Having experienced homelessness as a teenager, she understands how unstable housing can derail a young person’s ability to learn.
“Housing affects your class mobility, your education — everything,” she says. “I dropped out of high school because of housing instability. There weren’t any safety nets. That’s why this work matters to me.”
Today, she works as a housing specialist, helping people secure stable housing while continuing her graduate research.
Looking forward, she will continue interning as a research assistant with the Arizona Youth Identity Project within the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics. She hopes to gain more research experience to eventually apply for a PhD program next year.
“One day at a time,” she says, smiling. “You keep going, and eventually you get there.”
ASU News caught up with Bonilla to learn more about her time at ASU as she prepares for her next chapter after graduation.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: As a full-time employee at a nonprofit serving survivors of intimate partner violence, pursuing a master's degree felt out of reach. ASU’s innovative, fully online programs made earning my degree both possible and accessible while continuing my work and supporting my community.
Q: Shout out a professor, advisor or someone else who made a big impact on your journey — what did they teach you?
A: I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant intern on the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics’ Arizona Youth Identity Project (AZYIP) under Eileen Diaz McConnell, who has greatly influenced my academic and professional path by offering guidance on advancing my degree and long-term goals, introducing me to new concepts, literature and research areas, and funding my trip to the Pacific Sociology Association Conference next year in recognition of my continued work on the project. Working with her has been both collaborative and inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to grow as a researcher within her team.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Sometimes you will struggle or become stressed, that's okay and totally normal. Remember it's alright to step away from the work for a bit for self-care, but go back and work on it after. Also, lean on classmates and professors when you are stuck and need further explanations because we are all in this together!
Q: What’s one thing that made you feel connected to ASU while learning online?
A: Receiving emails from ASU and the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics helped me stay connected since I was online. But, most of all, following the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics and ASU on social media platforms kept me updated on the latest events and opportunities happening on campus and online. Making connections with classmates and professors helps the overall experience feel less isolated.
Q: What’s one change you’d love to see in the world — and how would you use your degree to help make it happen?
A: I aim to conduct and assist with research that sheds light on racial issues and disparities in housing and education. My goal is to produce research that can inform and influence policy changes to support the communities most affected by inequality.
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