San Diego, CA. - On Thursday, August 31, 2023, the San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery will host a reception for The Resistance of the Echo & La Eco-Resistencia: a multimedia installation by artist Francisco Eme. This multimedia installation is an urban ecology study focusing on the biological dynamics of a canyon situated in a suburb of San Diego. This work will be displayed through September 14th, in the San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery.
At San Diego Mesa College, alumni stories are as extraordinary as the students themselves. Amongst these testimonies, Sandra Perez's journey stands out as evidence to resilience and commitment to creating a brighter future.
On Saturday, August 19, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., the San Diego Mesa College Softball team will host a Softball Clinic for local girls, ages 6-16, at all levels of experience. The Clinic will be run by coaches and players and will focus on both defensive and offensive skills. Additionally, the team will host and question and answer session, and focus on the importance of team building and comradery.
August 22, 2022
One of 26 Leaders Selected for Prestigious Program Developing the Next Generation of Community College Leaders
San Diego, CA – The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced today that Dr. Ashanti T. Hands of San Diego Mesa College is one of 26 leaders selected for the 2022-23 class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship. This program, made possible with support from JPMorgan Chase, supports community college presidents in the early years of their tenure as they work to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.
“I am honored to be a part of this prestigious institute, alongside these brilliant colleagues, at this crucial moment in time,” stated Dr. Hands. “The ability to engage in dialogue, analyze and humanize data and actively plan to dismantle barriers that prevent equity and excellence, sets my soul on fire. I am ready for this journey and am excited to see how the overflow of this learning will impact higher and more equitable levels of student success at San Diego Mesa College.”
Dr. Hands started her tenure as President at San Diego Mesa College on July 1, 2022.
An equity-focused leader with a deep commitment to diversity, access and student success,
Dr. Hands served as vice president of Student Services at Mesa College since 2016.
She joined Mesa College in 2008 and held positions as dean of Student Affairs, acting
dean of Student Development and Matriculation, and acting vice president of Student
Services.
This class of fellows represent the diversity of our nation’s community colleges, collectively serving over 250,000 students at colleges across the nation, in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The incoming class of New Presidents Fellows is 46 percent female and 65 percent are people of color. Located in 19 states, their institutions too are diverse, from a tribal college with fewer than 300 students to an urban college that educates more than 35,000 each year.
The fellows, selected through a competitive process, will work closely with other transformational community college presidents and Aspen leaders over nine months to learn from field-leading research, analyze their colleges’ student outcomes, and clarify their visions for excellent and equitable outcomes for students while in college and after they graduate.
“The quality of our nation’s community colleges depends on the quality of our college presidents,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “I am continually inspired and motivated by the dedication and expertise that our fellows bring to the work of advancing excellence and equity on their campuses, and I look forward to seeing the changes they make in real time to improve outcomes for their students.”
JPMorgan Chase’s philanthropic support for the Aspen Presidential Fellowship is part of the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative to prepare young people for the future of work and meet the growing demand for skilled workers, and the $30 billion commitment to advance racial equity and drive an inclusive economy.
For bios and photos of all 26 leaders, visit highered.aspeninstitute.org/meet-the-new-presidents-fellows
About San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited, comprehensive college committed to equity and excellence. We honor our diverse community of students, faculty, professional staff, and administrators who collaborate to foster scholarship, leadership, access, and innovation in an inclusive learning environment. By promoting student learning and achievement that leads to degrees and certificates, transfer, workforce training, and lifelong learning, we empower our students to reach their educational goals and shape their future. Among the largest community colleges in California, Mesa serves 25,000 students per year, 25% of whom are full-time. Mesa offers nearly 200 associate degree and certificate programs and is one of 15 California community colleges offering a four-year baccalaureate degree in Health Information Management. Mesa ranks as San Diego’s top transfer institution, is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and a Military Friendly School, serving nearly 2,500 veterans and their families. www.sdmesa.edu.
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program supports colleges and universities in their quest to achieve a higher standard of excellence, delivering credentials that unlock life-changing careers and strengthen our economy, society, and democracy. We know it takes visionary college leaders to achieve this higher standard and we make it our mission to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and research-backed tools to inspire change, shift practice, and advance the capacity of colleges to deliver excellent and equitable student outcomes. For more information, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. Learn more at www.aspeninstitute.org.
About JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $3.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.
Tags: Aspen Institute, Ashanti Hands, Press Release
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
jnkearns@sdccd.edu
(619) 388-2759
San Diego - As the leading college of equity and excellence, San Diego Mesa College believes that textbooks should not be a barrier to education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there has been a 1041% increase in textbook costs from 1977 to 2015. This increase in textbook costs has contributed to education being prohibitive.
San Diego psychology professor Dr. Inna Kanevsky gained TikTok fame by debunking mental health misinformation on the popular social media platform. She now has more than a million followers as she fights to make content creators stick to scientific facts.
The San Diego Community College District – which includes San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges – will no longer require face coverings on district property beginning December 19. The SDCCD made the announcement on November 7, stating the decision was made only after the issue was discussed extensively during the fall semester with SDCCD leadership, the Board of Trustees, labor representatives, a COVID-19 Advisory Group, and other stakeholders.
