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Class of 2026 grad Nichole Gideon, who studied sociology and philosophy, is an advocate for the unhoused and plans to pursue a career in public law.\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClass of 2026 grad Nichole Gideon, who studied sociology and philosophy, is an advocate for the unhoused and plans to pursue a career in public law.\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Cal State Fullerton Class of 2026 grad Nichole Gideon is a dedicated advocate for the unhoused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For her advocacy work, Gideon garnered recognition in 2025 as one of the \u201c125 Most Influential People in Orange County\u201d by the Orange County Register.<\/p>\n
The single mother of two, who has a disability, spent time living on the streets. She rebuilt her life after securing employment and federal assistance for permanent, supportive housing. Gideon then focused on fulfilling her longtime dream of returning to college and one day attending law school.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife happened,\u201d Gideon said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a linear road to make a stable life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gideon graduated with honors and earned a bachelor\u2019s degree from Cal State Fullerton. She double majored in sociology with a focus on deviance and crime. Her second major was philosophy, where she studied social, moral and legal philosophy.<\/p>\n
\u201cCal State Fullerton has been a huge part of acclimating me back into society. I can\u2019t begin to express how much the university, professors and staff have done for me,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s bittersweet to graduate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gideon aspires to become a public law attorney to help others like her achieve. She currently serves on Orange County\u2019s Continuum of Care board, which advocates to end homelessness, and is a member of the Lived Experience Advisory Committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to drive social change from a legal standpoint,\u201d said Gideon, who earned associate degrees in sociology and social and behavioral sciences from Cypress College.<\/p>\n
On campus, Gideon found support and guidance from the Transfer Adult Re-entry Parenting & Pregnant Student Center <\/a>and Educational Opportunity Program<\/a>. She also gained leadership and advocacy opportunities through Project Rebound<\/a>, which provides financial aid and academic resources to formerly incarcerated students pursuing degrees.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough Project Rebound, I\u2019ve met other people who\u2019ve defied the odds despite their circumstances,\u201d she said. \u201cI found a community of like-minded individuals who became a support system.\u201d<\/p>\n Gideon also conducted an independent research project with four other formerly unhoused individuals to evaluate the services provided by Orange County homeless shelters.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project is important to me because people who are homeless rarely have a voice,\u201d said Gideon, who is working on finalizing the results of her study.<\/p>\n![\"Sociology](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_6348-1024x1024.jpeg\")
Nichole Gideon, second from right, who studied sociology and philosophy, with faculty adviser Pam Fiber-Ostrow, center, and fellow Moot Court team members (Courtesy of Nichole Gideon)<\/p>\n