SAN DIEGO, CA (MAY 16, 2024) — National University (NU), — a distinguished nonprofit Minority Serving Institution that serves more than 130,000 learners annually through its degree and professional training programs and San Diego Mesa College (Mesa) — one of the largest community colleges in California, serving 20,000 students per year and offering over 200 associate degree and certificate programs today announce a renewed educational partnership to further advance a higher educational commitment to increase educational attainment opportunities for nontraditional, working and military students in San Diego.

San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College have been recognized as among the top 100 colleges in the country for enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students, according to a ranking by Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine. Among two-year colleges across the United States, San Diego City College was ranked 35th, while Miramar College was ranked 68th. Mesa College was ranked 45th for four-year colleges and universities. The figures are based on enrollment during the 2020-21 academic year, using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Mesa is considered a 4-year college for data purposes because it offers a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management.

SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is pleased to announce the 39 fellows who will be part of the fourth cohort of its Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo, which includes Dr. Isabel O’Connor, Vice President of Instruction at San Diego Mesa College. The program is designed to increase diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education. Fellows participate in an array of leadership development activities preparing them for leadership roles in the full spectrum of institutions of higher learning, with an emphasis on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Emerging HSIs.

Casa Grande, AZ --- The Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) has announced the election of Dr. Paloma Vargas as AHSIE Council President for the 2022-2025 term. Dr. Vargas’s leadership and expertise will be valuable in achieving AHSIE’s mission of supporting practitioners through sharing best practices, collaboration, engagement, and professional learning.

On July 23, 2020, San Diego Mesa College’s Teacher Education Pathways Program was honored with a League for Innovation’s 2019-2020 Innovation of the Year Award. The Mesa Teacher Education Program (Program) and the recognition via this award, positions Mesa as one of the premiere colleges for aspiring teachers, and prepares the next generation of educators to bring necessary racial and gender diversity to the current teacher work force. The Program was awarded, in part, not only because of the focus on diversity, but because it also offers free tutoring, smaller classes, stipends and a direct path to earning a Bachelor’s degree - all to help ensure student success.

San Diego City and Mesa colleges have received a combined total of nearly $1.7 million in federal Department of Education grants supporting the academic achievement of Latino/a students as part of the schools’ designations as Hispanic Serving Institutions.

On Saturday, March 2, Mesa College will host multiple interactive booths on EXPO Day at Petco Park, via the San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering. EXPO Day, now in its 11th year, is a FREE day-long celebration of STEM in San Diego, where non-profits, educational institutions and corporations that hold exhibits and provide activities for children K-12. The Science Festival’s mission is to engage and encourage kids in science and engineering and work with parents and teachers to inspire today’s students to become tomorrow’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) innovators.

Between September 20th and October 12th San Diego Mesa College - a designated Hispanic Serving Institution - presented over a dozen Hispanic Heritage month events. Hundreds of students attended a variety of the events, both on and off campus.