When Dr. William Carroll (Biological Sciences, ’73) walks into his New York City lab, he knows the stakes are high. He’s spent more than four decades studying acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)—one of the most common childhood cancers—balancing patient care with research that changes lives.

“Telling a parent their child has cancer never gets easier—if it does, you’ve stayed too long,” he said.

Carroll’s impact reaches across medicine. As emeritus director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, he’s published more than 240 papers, helped set national treatment standards, and was honored with the 2025 Distinguished Career Award from the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Yet when asked where it all began, he points to Chico State.

“I was an okay high school student, but when I got to Chico, something clicked,” he recalled. “The classes were rigorous, the professors were approachable, and I started believing I could really do this.”

That sense of belonging—and the mentorship he received—shaped his path. Today, Carroll gives back to the Chico State Fund to ensure future Wildcats experience that same spark of discovery. The Chico State Fund delivers immediate, essential support to students and faculty, ensuring every Wildcat benefits from new opportunities.

“I look back on my time at Chico State as one of the most rewarding periods of my life," said Caroll. “I remain indebted to professors, lifelong friends, and the community for providing me with the foundation for a successful career in medicine as well as the skill set to balance professional and personal growth.”