From monsoons to maps: First-generation student Bianca Arreola named Dean’s Medalist
Bianca Arreola, the spring Dean's Medalist for the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, turned her love for Arizona’s monsoon into a passion for meteorology and GIS. Photo courtesy of Meghan Finnerty/ASU
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2026 graduates.
For Bianca Arreola, Arizona’s monsoon was more than just a favorite time of year. It was the beginning of her academic path.
Growing up in Glendale, Arizona, Arreola always knew she wanted to pursue a degree rooted in science and math. As a first-generation college student whose parents immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, she also knew higher education represented opportunity.
While exploring degree options at Arizona State University, one question on the meteorology program page stood out to her: “Are you interested in why monsoons build?” The answer was an immediate yes.
“I honestly really was interested, and apart from that, Arizona’s monsoon season is my favorite,” Arreola said. “What also intrigued me about the meteorology degree is that it had a substantial math intensity, which really interested me.”
Now graduating from ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (SGSUP) as a double major with bachelor’s degrees in geography (meteorology-climatology) and geographic information science (GIS), along with a certificate in atmospheric sciences, Arreola is being recognized as the school’s Spring 2026 Dean’s Medalist.
Outside the classroom, Arreola strengthened her technical skills through research and volunteer experiences. As a HeatMappers Student Fellow for the Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory in summer 2024, she helped pilot “Hestia Traffic,” an app developed by Northern Arizona University’s modeling team to collect traffic data across Phoenix and Flagstaff. She also collected plant samples of annual weeds and learned how environmental data is processed for research.
Through her volunteer work at ASU’s Weather Observation Station for the Arizona State Climate Office, she gained hands-on experience using meteorological instruments and observing how weather data is collected in real time. Both experiences strengthened her interest in becoming a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
We spoke with Arreola about her ASU experience and why she hopes to one day forecast weather for the public.
Question: How has pursuing multiple degrees complemented your academic experience?
Answer: Pursuing multiple degrees has complemented my academic experience because both fields go hand in hand. I can use skills from one degree and apply them to the other. My GIS degree actually started as just a certificate, but I really enjoyed my classes and creating maps, so I decided to officially add the full degree last year.
Having the GIS degree instead of just the certificate also gave me more opportunities to use programs like ArcGIS Pro and get more practice, which helps set me apart for future jobs and internships.
Q: How did scholarships help make your ASU experience possible?
A: Receiving multiple scholarships made a huge difference for me. Along with in-state tuition, they helped pay for the majority of my education, which meant I was able to pay for school all four years without taking out loans.
As the recipient of the SGSUP Ray Henkel Scholarship, the New American University President’s Scholarship and the Sun Devil State Award, I was able to work part time while still dedicating most of my time to studying and staying focused on school.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Professor Randall Cerveny taught me the most important lesson during my time at SGSUP. He showed me that being a meteorologist means being extremely detail-oriented and understanding that you cannot cut corners when forecasting.
The public relies on weather forecasts, and in many situations, lives can be at stake. That lesson really stayed with me.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: The best piece of advice that I have for those still in school would be to take advantage of all of the resources and opportunities at ASU, such as the campus shuttle buses, all the clubs offered and the tutoring centers. This past semester, I served as the social media manager for the Weather and Climate Club at ASU.
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: My favorite spot on campus would have to be the concourse level in Hayden Library near Charlie’s Cafe. I have so many amazing memories of meeting my friends there and eating lunch.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I hope to get a GIS internship after graduation, and in the future I would love to work as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.
During my senior year, I took Synoptic Meteorology I and II, where we learned forecasting, how to read upper-air charts and radar images. I found that really fascinating, and I would love to apply those skills in a forecasting office. I am also considering pursuing a master’s degree in the future.
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