San Diego Mesa College student Declan Mulvany has been accepted into the highly competitive Scripps Research Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, a 10-week internship offering hands-on experience in world-class laboratories.
Psychology major Emerald Moreno is inspired by a passion for understanding and interpreting others, along with a deep faith that psychology is her calling. She plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, minor in Spanish, and continue exploring a future in law.
After a major surgery and months of recovery, Tracey Kushner faced a decision that would reshape her future. In 2024, she returned to San Diego Mesa College determined to finish the degree she had started years earlier.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Mesa College proudly celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026, honoring 1,958 graduates who earned more than 2,017 academic degrees and 414 certificates. A total of 727 graduates participated in the ceremony, joined by family, friends, faculty, staff, and community supporters.
March 26, 2026
San Diego Mesa College student Declan Mulvany has been accepted into the highly competitive Scripps Research Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, a 10-week internship offering hands-on experience in world-class laboratories.
A biological sciences major, Mulvany has attended Mesa on and off for several years and has been a full-time student for the past two. He plans to transfer to a University of California campus this fall to study biochemistry, with the goal of earning a Ph.D. in medicinal or synthetic chemistry and pursuing a career in drug development.
The SURF Program at Scripps Research in La Jolla offers students the opportunity to work full-time in advanced research settings while engaging in professional development workshops and seminars. Mulvany will be working in the Shenvi Lab, a synthetic chemistry lab where he expects to contribute to research focused on developing asymmetric metal-hydride hydrogen atom transfer reactions to functionalize alkenes. At the conclusion of the program, he and his cohort will present their findings at a research symposium.
Motivated by his passion for scientific exploration, Mulvany said the opportunity marks an important step forward. “I have always felt most at home in the lab,” he said. “This experience will allow me to fully immerse myself in research and begin my transition from student to scientist.”
Selected from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants, Mulvany described feeling elated when receiving his acceptance.
After being homeschooled and attending Mesa intermittently, he returned with a fresh perspective and a deep curiosity that drove him to fully engage in his studies. By taking on rigorous honors STEM coursework, mentoring peers, and participating in various academic projects, he demonstrated both resilience and readiness for the demands of the program. “Mesa has been the perfect environment for me to take on challenges and grow,” he said.
Mulvany highlighted the impact of faculty mentors, including Dr. David Lizárraga, whose enthusiasm for science first sparked his interest, and Dr. Lynnie Trzoss, whose mentorship inspired his passion for organic chemistry and encouraged him to apply to the SURF Program.
For students hoping to pursue similar opportunities, Mulvany encourages persistence.
“Work hard, create your own learning opportunities, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” he said. “Rejection is part of the process, but if you stay focused and persistent, you never know what might happen.”
As he prepares to begin his summer at Scripps Research, Mulvany says he is proud to represent San Diego Mesa College and the community that helped shape his journey.
Tags: Scripps Research SURF Program, Mesa Students
Anabell Pulido
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(619) 388-2759
San Diego Mesa College student Declan Mulvany has been accepted into the highly competitive Scripps Research Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, a 10-week internship offering hands-on experience in world-class laboratories.
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.
For 12 weeks over the fall, one of San Diego Mesa College’s graduating Museum Studies students will embark on a new adventure as a Latino Museum Studies Intern at the Smithsonian. Jake Selters will work from Aug. 26 to Nov. 15, 2024, at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington D.C. and study Collections Management with some of the world’s preeminent experts.
