Darletta Scruggs, School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
Hometown: Chicago, IL
What led you to DePaul?
My path to DePaul started with years of real-world experience, personal responsibility and a desire to formalize the knowledge I had already built. Despite not having my bachelor’s degree, I have worked in corporate settings for over a decade. And I still grew to feel imposter syndrome. From working in healthcare, retail, transportation, logistics and supply chain, I found a way to educate and manage myself within the corporate structure. However, there’s a ceiling when you don’t have a degree, as well as a gap in technical knowledge that can be gained from college.
How do you connect with the DePaul community outside of the classroom?
As a non-traditional student at DePaul, I recognize that I’m much older than traditional students. I attended campus activities to stay connected and to make sure that as a first-generation, low-income student, my journey was successful. With DePaul’s Vincentian heritage, I also felt called to connect spiritually and that calling led me to becoming a Bridgebuilding Fellow. Through that fellowship, I was trained to facilitate dialogue and bring together community members across different viewpoints to create shared understanding for difficult topics.
I was also part of TrIO groups, Student Support Services (SSS) and the McNair Scholars program, both of which focus on underrepresented student populations at DePaul.
What is your favorite memory during your time at DePaul?
My favorite memory was actually a moment of discomfort. As a recipient of a scholarship, you’re invited to attend a scholarship award ceremony to connect with donors. The prospect of being in a room with people who have so many resources, especially growing up with very little, brought me a lot of anxiety.
As a way to prepare my talking points for the event, I came across an article on DePaul’s Mission and Ministry page, “Sharing the Way of Wisdom” by Mark Laboe. I found it extremely calming because in the piece he wrote that knowledge is not only what is gained but also using personal experience to decipher what that knowledge truly means to you.
Fast forward, on the day of the ceremony, a person walked up to my table and asked about an empty seat. His tag said “Mark Laboe,” a moment of serendipity.
What inspired you to pursue your major and professional path?
I think dropping out of high school and being on my own since I was 15 developed my natural hustler spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset, especially in a city like Chicago. I learned to be resourceful and figure things out, even when I didn’t have the traditional tools or structure.
Working across different industries gave me a broad perspective. I saw how business decisions impact real people. It’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet. It affects families, communities and everyday life.
That’s what pushed me toward business. I wanted to refine the skills I already had and understand the theory behind them but also bring a perspective that is often missing. I’ve experienced the impact of those decisions, so I want to be part of conversations where that reality is acknowledged.
What was your favorite DePaul class?
My favorite class was "Brave New World and 1984: Diverging Dystopias." I took it as an elective without really knowing what to expect, but it ended up being one of the most impactful courses I’ve had.
Reading "Brave New World” and diving deeper into its themes really helped me understand a bigger picture of the systems we live in. It didn’t push me into a negative mindset. It inspired me. Knowledge is power and when you understand how systems work, you can start to think about how to navigate them and respond to them.
As a parent, it also shifted how I think about the future. It made me think about what kind of world we are building for the next generation and what role I play in that.
What advice would you give incoming students?
Take this experience seriously, no matter what type of student you are. It can be easy to go through the motions, but there is real value in what you are learning and time will pass by quickly.
Knowledge and skills give you freedom. When you understand how to think critically and analyze information, you are less likely to be influenced or controlled.
What are you doing next?
My options feel unlimited right now. This journey has taken me through a lot of different paths and I’m open to where it leads next. I will be pursuing my master’s in organizational leadership, and I’m interested in continuing to build on what I’ve learned through both business and community work.