Connie Renda, MA, RHIA, CHDA, Program Director and Assistant Professor for Health Information Technology and Management, was recognized by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) with the prestigious Leadership Award.
We are excited to share the members of Generation Hope's California Presidents Circle, the first in a new national initiative designed to equip higher education executives with tools, data, and peer support to truly champion parenting students and their families.
Women’s volleyball at Mesa College is on a spike. In the spring, the Olympians won the state beach volleyball title after winning the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title for a fourth straight year.
June 25, 2025
When Angel René walked across the stage at San Diego Mesa College in spring 2025, he celebrated far more than academic achievement. He celebrated the emergence of identity, resilience, and authentic self-belief. Born in Long Beach and raised between Orange County and the Inland Empire, Angel’s journey to Mesa was far from traditional. After being forced out of his home and church at age 18 for being gay, Angel endured over five years of housing instability, emotional trauma, and personal upheaval. “I tried staying in college,” he said, “but it was too difficult to balance academics with figuring out how to survive.”
In 2022, Angel made a bold decision to start over. He drove to San Diego with no home, no safety net, and no clear plan. For six months, he lived in his car, rebuilding his life from the ground up. In 2023, he enrolled at Mesa College at 24 years old, determined to try again. What followed was a powerful transformation.
He maintained straight As and became deeply involved in campus life. “But the biggest thing I gained was a sense of who I am and where I want to go,” he said.
Angel’s impact at Mesa was profound. He served as an Executive Officer in Associated Student Government, a Project Assistant for Black Student Success, a Pride Scholar, and a Public Relations Officer for Phi Theta Kappa. He was also a member of the Police Advisory Board and UMOJA.
In addition to his academic and leadership achievements, Angel is also a musician and songwriter. He creates original music that reflects his personal journey, style, and musical influences. His record, How to Live A Beautiful Life, is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, under his artist name, Angel René.
He credited his growth to the mentorship of dedicated professors and a campus culture rooted in access and care. Courses like POLI102 with Professor Austin Barrazza pushed him intellectually and affirmed his identity. BLAS100 with Dr. Candace Katungi opened new doors to cultural self-awareness, while ENGL105 with Professor Travis Phelps reignited his love for storytelling.
“The access Mesa provided was life changing,” he said. “Every professor I had made themselves available for questions, for support, for hope.”
At commencement, Angel graduated with an Associate in Arts for Transfer in English, Political Science, and a Pathway to Law Certificate. He earned multiple awards, including the President’s Award for Academic Excellence, the I AM BRAVE Pride Center Scholarship, the Charles W. Patrick Memorial Scholarship, and more.
His next step? In fall 2025, Angel will begin classes at Yale University, where he plans to double major in English and Philosophy with a certificate in Human Rights. His long-term goals include law school, military service as a judge advocate general officer, and shaping ethical frameworks for artificial intelligence and federal criminal justice reform.
But Angel’s story was not just about academics or accolades. It was also deeply personal.
“I conquered an eating disorder during my time at Mesa,” he shared. “There’s a staircase outside Student Services that became my track. That summer, I lost 50 pounds. I found strength in myself I didn’t know was there.”
When asked what he would miss most about Mesa, Angel did not hesitate: “The people. The architecture. The spirit of the campus. This place gave family to a wandering soul.”
His advice to current and future students was heartfelt:
“Trust the process. Say yes even when you're scared. It will pay off.”
From sleeping in a car to stepping onto Yale’s campus, Angel Wilson’s story is a powerful reminder of what is possible when determination meets opportunity and when a community college truly becomes a community.
Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theangelrene/
X.com: @angelrenewilson
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angel-wilson-a75a55171/
Tags: Pride Scholar, Umoja, Phi Theta Kappa, Associated Student Government, Black Student Success, Angel René Wilson
Anabell Pulido
Director of Communications
[email protected]
(619) 388-2759
For Jeremiah Palomino, leadership is not about titles but about creating belonging. Now serving as Associated Student Government president at San Diego Mesa College and as a student trustee for the San Diego Community College District, he uses this personal philosophy and a heart for people to serve his community.
When Angel René walked across the stage at San Diego Mesa College in spring 2025, he celebrated far more than academic achievement. He celebrated the emergence of identity, resilience, and authentic self-belief. Born in Long Beach and raised between Orange County and the Inland Empire, Angel’s journey to Mesa was far from traditional. After being forced out of his home and church at age 18 for being gay, Angel endured over five years of housing instability, emotional trauma, and personal upheaval. “I tried staying in college,” he said, “but it was too difficult to balance academics with figuring out how to survive.”
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.
