Becky Sandoval Young

Tile and Department:

Career Center Coordinator
Career Center

How did you end up going into your current role or field and what do you enjoy most about the work you do?

As a proud Sonoma State University alum, I began my journey here as a Community Services Advisor (now called a Resident Advisor), where I first discovered the joy of helping college students grow into who they want to become. That experience ignited my passion for student development and led me to earn a master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education. After working at universities across the country, I was thrilled to return home to SSU to serve in the Residential Life department.

A few years later, I transitioned to the Career Center—an opportunity that allowed me to continue supporting students in new and meaningful ways. Over the past eight years, I’ve advanced from Career Advisor to Career Advisor & Employer Relations Specialist, and now to Career Center Coordinator. In each role, I’ve been dedicated to empowering students to discover their strengths, build confidence, and achieve the goals they’ve worked so hard for.

I am deeply passionate about connecting students and employers to create that “perfect match.” There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a student’s hard work pay off as they launch their career—or hearing from an employer who is thrilled to welcome a talented Seawolf to their team. During my time in the Career Center, I’ve expanded our employer engagement efforts, bringing over 250 employers to campus each year and more than 3,000 throughout my tenure to connect with our incredible students and help get Seawolves hired.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Sonoma State community?

What I enjoy most about being part of the Sonoma State community is that at its core, this campus truly cares about individuals—their stories, experiences, and growth. I love watching students find their voices, grow as leaders, and help shape the campus for future Seawolves. When students face challenges, I’ve seen time and again how our staff go above and beyond to support them. I value that I can walk a student across campus to another office and know they’ll be met with kindness, understanding, and care. We have an incredible web of support here, and I’m proud to be part of it.

Beyond the compassion and connection, I’m grateful to come to work every day on one of the most beautiful campuses I’ve ever seen. As an alum, Sonoma State helped shape who I am—it instilled in me the values of kindness, care, and compassion for others. Here, I learned to challenge the norm, to be part of the solution, and to use my voice to advocate for all students. This community gave me the foundation to grow, and I’m honored to now give back to the place that helped me become who I am.

What do you find most fulfilling about working in higher education?

What I find most fulfilling about working in higher education is being part of a student’s journey of growth—watching them discover who they are, what they’re passionate about, and how they can use their strengths to shape their future. Every day, I have the privilege of helping students find confidence in themselves, develop their skills, and take steps toward achieving the goals they’ve worked so hard for.

In what ways does your work make an impact on students, the campus or the broader campus community?

Working for Sonoma State has been one of the greatest honors of my career. As an alum, SSU is where I discovered my passion for helping students grow, and returning as a professional has allowed me to give back to the community that shaped me.
During my time in the Career Center, I’ve been proud to expand employer engagement from 80 to over 300 employers annually—bringing more than 3,000 employers to campus over my tenure and increasing revenue by 300%. I also helped redesign our staffing model during a major transition, ensuring we continued serving students at the highest level. Mentoring student employees and staff remains one of my greatest joys—helping them grow as leaders and carry SSU’s values of compassion, curiosity, and service into their careers.
A defining moment for me was during the 2017 Tubbs Fire, when I lost my home. The outpouring of compassion from this campus community—staff donating from their own limited means and colleagues stepping in to support me—showed me what it truly means to be part of the Seawolf family.
SSU has shaped both my professional path and my personal resilience. It’s a community that leads with care, lifts each other up, and inspires me daily to help students build lives filled with purpose and possibility.