​​When Maria Christina Huerta-Avila became a young mother, she put her education on hold. Despite multiple obstacles, she returned to college after a 13-year break with a resolve to succeed, both for herself and for her daughters. 

After one year at Southwestern College, Maria was one of five students accepted to transfer to San Diego State through the NextGen Smoke and Vape-Free Latinx Scholars Program. 

​Now a senior working toward her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in cultural proficiency, Maria was honored recently with an Undergraduate Research Excellence Award at the 2024 SDSU Student Symposium. 

Following years of community volunteer work through the Parent Teacher Association at her children’s school, Maria is now engaged in research and internships related to tobacco control, health disparities and tobacco-free advocacy. She plans to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology or neuroscience and pursue a career in research on brain disorders. ​