Often, biology classes are bound to a lab, but at San Diego Mesa College, students get a chance to see what it’s like out in the field. In 2022, Mesa College received a grant from the National Science Foundation to fund programs that work to engage students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Since then, professors Dean Leavitt and Daniela Bruckman have led annual weekend-long field excursions out into the wilds of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to teach students about desert natural history and help them develop skills in ecological field methods.

Since March, Mesa students have won prestigious scholarship awards to fund their educational endeavors for the 2024-25 school year and beyond. Mesa student Husna Ayoubi was chosen to be one 60 community college students selected to receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a highly competitive award that can reach as much as $55,000 each year by financing all or a portion of educational costs, including tuition, room and board, books and required fees. Additionally, students won awards from organizations including the California Law Pathways program, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, and the Coco-Cola Foundation.

The Upper Interpretive Trail section of the Mesa Woodland Nature and Interpretive Trail wraps around the slope of the west side of campus for about 7/10ths of a mile. Incredibly, it is one of the largest displays of labeled native plants in San Diego County. That’s right, San Diego Mesa College students are steps away from being able to view and identify more native plants than any other place- including the Torrey Pines State Reserve near UC San Diego. 42 native species are currently labeled, including four endangered plants identified in a recent biological study- the San Diego Barrel Cactus, Chalk Dudleya. Willowy Mint, and Torrey Pine.

May 9, 2024 - Lansdowne, VA — Today, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has announced Husna Ayoubi of San Diego Mesa College, as one 60 community college students selected to receive the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

NASA has selected 40 undergraduate students for the first year of its Europa ICONS (Inspiring Clipper: Opportunities for Next-generation Scientists) internship program, supporting the agency’s Europa Clipper mission. Europa ICONS matches students with mentors from the mission’s science team for a 10-week program to conduct original scientific research on topics related to the mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa.

On Monday, March 11, Mesa Dramatic Arts majors were thrilled when five Mesa College alumni came to speak with current students about their journey in the performing arts thus far. The panel, titled Life Post Mesa in the Performing Arts: Transfer and more, was organized by Drama Professor George Ye’. He explained that he wanted to show current students a “cross section of people with different pathways.”

San Diego, CA. — For over ten years, San Diego Mesa College has been offering Summer CRUISE—Creating Rich Unique Intellectual Student Experiences – for incoming college students. This summer, Mesa is offering four CRUISE sessions in July – August. Sessions are completely free and available to recent high school graduates and those who are first-time or returning college students. Registration is still available for incoming students for the weeks of July 18 and 25, as well as the week of August 1.