I had my daughter, and it changed the way I saw and experienced things. I suddenly wanted to show her what was possible, and it also showed me what I was capable of. I don’t think I would have believed I could finish my degree if I didn’t have her.

Lucky Corral
Project and Communications Manager, Supply Chain Management 
UCSF Finance

Lucky's Historical Pivot

Tell us about your role. 

I’ve been at UCSF for seven years now. In my role, my team partners with Supply Chain Management to support the success of their programs, services, and initiatives from early planning through implementation. That includes project management work as well as communications. ‌

‌When people hear “comms,” they often have a narrow idea of what it means. Our work has helped teams understand what effective communications can actually do—how it supports projects, drives adoption, and helps initiatives succeed. That work started before me, and we’ve continued to build on it. Over time, with the collaboration and support of the SCM leadership team, we’ve worked to create an understanding and appreciation for our work, and the trust we’ve formed is a point of pride.

Tell us about your decision to go back to school and receive your bachelor’s degree.

When I left UC Davis as an undergrad, I was 20 years old and I wasn’t in the best mental headspace. I felt like I had to get out and start working. I eventually built a career within the University of California, moving around the system from Davis to Berkeley and now, San Francisco. 

For a long time, I didn’t think I would go back to school. Before my father passed, he would often ask me about returning to school. I would say, “No, Dad, I’m good. I’m on a good career path. I feel comfortable. I’ve got a good trajectory even without my bachelor’s degree.” 

Then I had my daughter, and it changed the way I saw and experienced things. I suddenly wanted to show her what was possible, and it also showed me what I was capable of. I don’t think I would have believed I could finish my degree if I didn’t have her. She gave me a sense of strength that I didn’t know I had. ‌

When I started looking into school again, I found out there were offices at the UC campuses that help students like me—I wasn’t alone. One of the reasons I'm sharing my story is that I want people to know these resources exist. (See the UC Davis Transfer and Reentry Center and Student Parent Resources webpages to learn more.) 

‌I found out I only needed seven classes to finish my degree. And while it got very challenging at times, I made it through with the support of my husband and daughter, and my entire Projects & Comms team. 

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You received a Bachelor’s of History. What interests you about history? 

I’ve always been drawn to history. At one point, I thought I might pivot into a communications degree. But the advising office suggested I take another history class since I was so close to completing that degree. Taking that class brought me back into it. I loved it—the critical and analytical thinking, understanding the meaning behind the documents and events. 

‌I also started to see how closely history and communications overlap. Both require you to analyze information, understand context, and translate complex ideas into something clear and meaningful for an audience. That connection made me appreciate how my academic interests and my professional work reinforce each other. ‌

‌Going back to college was challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I was in classes with students much younger than me, and sometimes it’s easy to feel disconnected from younger generations. Being able to hear their perspectives and experiences was really meaningful. That, with the curriculum, gave me hope. I’m excited to see where future historians will take us.

FAVORITE COOKIE JAR TREAT 

Bouchon Fugeddaboudits from Napa 
It’s like a Rice Krispies treat with layers of caramel and chocolate. It’s so good. My brother introduced them to me.

Have a good story idea? Contact Kim LaPean and sign up to receive the latest  One Good Thing.  

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