Finding Belonging at Sonoma State — and Helping Others Do the Same
When Denise Bevis first began thinking about college, the path ahead felt anything but certain.
Raised in Grover Beach in San Luis Obispo County, Denise lost her mother while she was still in high school. College felt distant — something that might eventually happen, perhaps starting at a nearby junior college. A trusted high school teacher helped change that trajectory.
“She had done many college trips with college-bound students, and based on her experience advising many kids through the process, she had a strong hunch that Sonoma State was a fit for me,” Bevis said. “She encouraged me to look at it seriously. And when I came here, I knew she was right.”
Denise arrived at Sonoma State as a first-generation college student, navigating not only the academic transition but also personal loss. Even amid the disruptions of COVID during her first year at SSU, she says she felt supported — and, crucially, that she belonged.
Denise completed her bachelor’s degree in May 2024 and is nearing completion of her master’s degree in creative writing. Along the way, she found mentors, community, and opportunities that helped her thrive — and that now shape the way she supports prospective students as a Sonoma State lecturer and student ambassador.
Ambassadors like Denise play a critical role in recruiting the next generation of Seawolves, especially for students coming from outside Sonoma County who may feel unsure about whether Sonoma State is the right fit.
“I come into these conversations asking, ‘Are you a first-generation college student? Me too,’” Bevis said. “And then I map out the routes and tools available to make the college journey possible and achievable. I know what it’s like to think maybe college is out of reach.”
That kind of relatability is powerful. For prospective students navigating unfamiliar territory — geographically or academically — seeing a bit of themselves in someone who has successfully made the journey can instill confidence.
“A strong bench of student ambassadors and pre-admissions counselors who bring diverse lived experiences to Sonoma State is essential to recruiting future classes to our campus and our community, especially as we are forging admissions partnerships with school districts beyond Sonoma and the Bay Area,” said Kelley Kaslar, SSU’s director of student recruitment and orientation.
“When you are coming to our campus for the first time from, say, Southern California or the Central Valley, it is really helpful to be able to connect with a student or a recent graduate who made the same leap that you are considering,” Kaslar explained. “Denise and others on our team help prospective students see a community, and a path, for themselves at Sonoma State.”
Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process, SSU has established admissions partnerships with 16 high schools and high school districts, including Petaluma City Schools, the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, Windsor Unified School District, and Visalia Unified School District; and with seven community colleges and community college districts, with half a dozen new agreements in progress.
Denise emphasized the importance of on-campus involvement as a way for newly arrived students to find their place. Her own experience bears that out. She credits the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides access, academic support, and community for first-generation and historically underserved students, as foundational to her success. She also found critical support through the Seawolf Scholars Program, which serves current and former foster youth through advocacy, academic support, and access to resources.
The importance of campus involvement, mentors
Academically, Denise found her voice as a creative writer at Sonoma State. She credits Professor Stefan Kiesbye with encouraging her to pursue creative writing in her graduate studies. Looking ahead, she says she sees at least one book project in her future.
“I do have a manuscript in progress I am very passionate about,” she said.
Her commitment to Sonoma State extends beyond the classroom. Denise served as a campus tour guide for five years, welcoming prospective students and families and helping them imagine themselves as part of the SSU community. She now works as a lecturer in the English Department, teaching first-year composition courses (English100A -100B).
Along the way, she said she has been guided by mentors, including Professor Kiesbye; Khou Yang-Vigil, the executive director of SSU's Center for Academic Access and Student Enrichment (CAASE); and Kaslar, her supervisor in the Welcome Center — and these relationships inspired the care Denise now extends to current and future Seawolves.
For prospective students weighing distance, doubt, or unfamiliarity, ambassadors like Denise Bevis offer a compelling blend of information, lived experience, and a clear message: You belong at Sonoma State, and when you arrive, you won’t be navigating your journey alone.