Class of 2009 Outstanding Graduates - PSFA (Ceremony 2)
Below are several of San Diego State University's outstanding graduates from the class of 2009, which includes nearly 10,000 degree candidates:
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (Ceremony 2)
Alfie Fullen
Afarin Fullen, 47, B.S., foods and nutrition
As an undocumented immigrant in the United States, Afarin "Alfie" Fullen was unable to attend college right after high school, but managed to make the best of her unsettling and restrictive circumstances.
At age 41, she enrolled at Mesa Community College in San Diego and eventually transferred to San Diego State to continue her education in the field of nutrition. Though at first unsure if she could handle schoolwork while managing a household with three school-age children, the experience proved to be one of the best detours of her life and helped her to become more compassionate and understanding of the plight of others.
Now a U.S. citizen, Fullen is the 2009 Outstanding Foods and Nutrition Graduate in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. She is currently a nutrition counselor intern at the SDSU Health Promotion Office and will begin a dietetic internship this summer at the San Diego VA Hospital.
She plans to become a registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator, and in the future, obtain a master's degree in public health. (Hometown: born in Tehran, Iran; raised in Santa Monica, Calif.)
David Richards
David Richards, 29, B.A., public administration
As a child, David Richards was homeschooled, and when his family went through tough times, he decided to work three jobs to help pay the bills.
At the age of 19, he decided to attend Poway High School's Adult Education Center to work towards his GED. He continued at Palomar College where he obtained two associate degrees, and in 2007, transferred to San Diego State University where he is now an outstanding graduate in the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.
Richards has also worked for the city of Poway for 13 years, and he currently serves as recreation supervisor at Lake Poway. His future goals include expanding his horse boarding and training facility in Poway, returning to SDSU to obtain a master's degree in public administration, and becoming a city manager. (Hometown: Poway, Calif.)
Other class of 2009 outstanding graduates by college:
- College of Arts and Letters
- College of Business Administration
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Health and Human Services
- College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (Ceremony 1)
- College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (Ceremony 2)
- College of Sciences
- Special programs and double majors
