Climate change and a host of other factors increase food insecurity, which disproportionately impacts Latinx and other underserved communities in our region. Now, San Diego State University has received a four-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to train Latinx students for careers in sustainable agriculture and food science.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Feb. 05, 2020) – Local community college students will be able to access and attain a San Diego State University degree through new partnerships with two community colleges without ever having to step foot on the SDSU campus. As an initial pilot of the SDSU microsite model, SDSU will launch bachelor’s degree completion programs at San Diego Mesa College and Southwestern College in Business Administration and Criminal Justice, beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year. Additional programs are being planned for future years

Natchel Bello Luna is the Lead Peer Navigator for Mesa’s CRUISE Program, and recently received the California State Assembly’s 80th District 2018 Woman of the Year award in March, and has continued on a path of success towards graduating from San Diego Mesa College on May 19, 2018. Ms. Bello is a Business major at Mesa with an emphasis in Marketing and holds a cumulative GPA of 3.54. She was awarded this honor due to her “exemplary leadership, service, and tenacity” in her community and school.