Ralph Figueroa’s journey through higher education has been shaped by service, family, perseverance and a desire to create opportunities for others.

Originally from La Puente, Calif. Figueroa is a first-generation college graduate, U.S. Army veteran and nontraditional student. After completing his military service, he continued his college education, earning his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona before pursing master’s degree at California State University, San Bernardino.

For Figueroa, choosing CSUSB meant finding a graduate program that aligned with the work he hoped to do. “I did a lot of research into master’s programs because I was excited to continue my education after Cal Poly Pomona, but it was the prestige of the rehabilitation counseling program itself that really drew me here,” Figueroa said.

He earned his master of arts in rehabilitation counseling from CSUSB in 2025, preparing him to pursue a career centered on supporting veterans and their mental health needs. His goal is to help create spaces where veterans transitioning to higher education feel welcomed, understood and connected to the resources available to them.

At CSUSB, he gained the tools and support needed to do that work. Along the way he also found his own sense of belonging. As he explored campus, the Veterans Success Center became an important part of his experience. He also discovered resources across the university that helped him navigate graduate school while balancing the responsibilities of being a nontraditional student.

“A lot of us are nontraditional students. We’re older. We have mortgages and children, and faculty were able to shift their office hours accordingly,” Figueroa said. “That really went a long way. If I could describe the faculty in one sentence, they are absolutely phenomenal and ready to make you a successful student, whatever it takes.”

Figueroa approached graduate school with clear ambitions. With responsibilities extending beyond the classroom, he made a point of seeking out the programs, people and services that could help him succeed. “The resources and support that I found most helpful during my time as a graduate student here at Cal State San Bernardino were the many resources available across campus.,” he said. “There are so many different benefits and resources that are available here.”

As a veteran with a service-connected disability, Figueroa sought assistance from campus programs serving veterans and students with disabilities. Rather than viewing the need for support as a limitation, he made accessing those resources part of his strategy for success.

That experience now shapes the advice he gives other students: get involved, immerse yourself in student life and make connections.

For Figueroa, those connections extended far beyond the classroom. Classmates became friends, and those friendships continued after graduation, with some becoming part of significant milestones in his life.

His determination began long before college. A proud Latino, Figueroa credits much of his work ethic and sense of purpose to his upbringing. His father taught him the value of hard work and the importance of doing anything that carried his name to the best of his ability. His mother, a strong Latina who spoke with conviction and passion, taught her family to communicate with purpose, intention and confidence.

Those lessons continue to influence how he approaches his work and future. For Figueroa, earning a degree is about more than individual achievement. His education has given him another way to serve — this time by supporting veterans, students, families and the community he proudly represents.

As Figueroa looks toward the next chapter of his education and career, he carries forward the lessons of his family, military service and experience at CSUSB: work with purpose, use the resources around him, build meaningful connections and create opportunities for those who come next.