Second-year student Zora Williams is using her voice to bring more mental health and nutrition programming to San Diego Mesa College. Williams was elected president of the college’s Associated Students (AS) for the 2024-2025 academic year and serves as the college’s student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.
Sometimes, you hear a story that makes you want to know more. Kevin Gonzalez has such a story. The last time this story was updated, San Diego Mesa College student Kevin Gonzalez was a 15 year-old heading off to Massachusetts to complete his high school education. In the ensuing years, he has travelled to the other side of the world, built houses, but remained in close contact with his Mesa College professors and connections he made while on campus.
The San Diego Community College District has appointed four new student trustees for the upcoming academic year. Dalia Ramirez (San Diego City College), Zora Williams (San Diego Mesa College), Hailey Hua (San Diego Miramar College), and Haydee Zuniga (San Diego College of Continuing Education), will be sworn in during the June 20 SDCCD Board of Trustees meeting.
March 27, 2020
San Diego, CA. - Today, San Diego Mesa College announced the official launch of the Mesa College COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Students. The goal of this fund is to provide emergency assistance to students whose lives and educational goals have been disrupted by the catastrophic impact of the Coronavirus crisis. Funds will be used to assist students in need and decrease their risk of dropping out of classes or college.
Many of Mesa College students are among those hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Even before the outbreak, almost 50% were food insecure and nearly 1 in 5 were housing insecure/homeless. Many students worked in sectors such as food service that have been forced to close or decrease their workforce. The move to online learning has meant that students without computers, internet, or other resources must overcome new barriers. Many are post-traditional students who have taken on the role of teacher to young children due to school closures.
“Raising these funds will increase our ability to provide our most vulnerable students with the support they need,” stated Mesa College President Pamela T. Luster.
To protect the health and safety of Mesa students and the campus community, Mesa College moved all classes online. Within days, the Mesa College community—including Associated Students, the San Diego Mesa College Foundation, and generous donors — have contributed $30,000 to establish the COVID-19 Emergency Student Relief Fund. 100% of donations will go directly to students whose lives and educational goals have been disrupted by the catastrophic impact of the crisis.
Mesa College has a history of working diligently to address the most basic needs of students. From opening up The Stand (the food and clothing pantry) in early 2017, to debuting the monthly free Farmers Market in 2018, to providing emergency funds for car repairs and hotel vouchers, Mesa has assisted thousands of students with obtaining access to essentials such as food, clothing, transportation and housing.
To learn more and donate, please visit www.sdmesa.edu/foundation.
About San Diego Mesa College
Among the largest community colleges in California and the nation, San Diego Mesa College is a fully accredited, comprehensive college serving 24,000 students and offering 196 associate degree and certificate programs. In January 2015, Mesa College was among 15 California community colleges selected as a pilot site to offer a four-year baccalaureate program – and in 2018, conferred the first set of bachelor’s degrees in the history of the College. With its premier fine art and music programs, robust language and humanities offerings, and rigorous math and science curricula, Mesa ranks as San Diego’s top transfer institution. The college also serves as an important economic catalyst for the region. Career workforce programs include the bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management, and two-year programs in allied health fields, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), multimedia, business, Veterinary Technology, American Sign Language, hospitality, culinary arts, fashion, architecture, interior design and more. Situated in the center of San Diego, the college’s small classes, outstanding faculty, and reputation for quality offer an unparalleled academic experience. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, Mesa College is committed to becoming the leading college of equity and excellence and to the success of all students, including underrepresented students, and more than 2,400 veterans and their families. www.sdmesa.edu.
Tags: Student support, COVID-19
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
jnkearns@sdccd.edu
(619) 388-2759
Krista Stellmacher
Director of Resource Development
kstellmacher@sdccd.edu
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, at the Shining Light on Generosity event, San Diego Mesa College debuted the naming of The Stand: The Pamela T. Luster Resource Center, in honor of former President Dr. Pamela T. Luster. Additionally, the event served as an intimate gathering that honored and recognized multiple donors who helped the Mesa College Resiliency Fund become a reality.
In a campus-wide equity effort to help students succeed in their Spring 2021 classes, Mesa College is providing supplies and kits for over 20 academic courses and programs. Students taking science courses such as microbiology and botany will have access to microscopes and seed kits, fashion students can get sewing machines, fabric and dress forms. Music students can access electronic music studio kits and electronic keyboards, dental students can receive various dental instruments, and astronomy students will receive supplies to build their own Galilean telescopes. Spring 2021 classes start on Monday, February 1, and supplies distribution will take place during the first several weeks of classes.
Art has a lot to say these days, and from November 13th to December 9th, 36 California artists will be adding their voices to the mix to memorialize the dramatic events of the past eight months in the socially distanced Mesa College Drive-In: An Outdoor Art Exhibition (open Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm, excluding school holidays). This free, unique exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to reflect on artwork from the safety of their cars as they drive through the outdoor display located in Lot 1 on Mesa College’s campus. Curated by the San Diego Mesa College Museum Studies class, the art pieces capture the turmoil of the 2020 “new normal,” and provide commentary on the effects of global illness, social unrest, and destructive wildfires.
