Fall 2006/Winter 2007
As I relinquish my role as MESA Executive Director, I look back with pride at the advances made by MESA during the twelve years that I have served in this capacity. Despite many challenges through the years, I believe that the program has emerged with a much stronger foundation and sense of its future path than ever before.
When I first assumed the executive directorship in 1995, MESA already had an outstanding reputation, but was facing some significant obstacles. MESA centers had grown throughout the state, sometimes with significant variations in services from center to center. A new era of increased accountability and measurements meant that the program had to establish tighter standards to demonstrate its effectiveness. We established performance and program standards while allowing for some local flexibility, and set up a research and information management center to centralize the data that were increasingly in demand. Meanwhile, we reorganized MESA's board of directors and brought industry representatives to sit side-by-side with members from different segments of California education so together they would help chart a course forward for the program.
Proposition 209 significantly changed the landscape for MESA. Prior to the passage of the 1996 initiative, we already had anticipated the changing political terrain of the state, and took steps to broaden our definition of students to be served by the program. By expanding services to all students from disadvantaged circumstances, we were able to offer support to our traditional population while adding new students. Our ability to make this change while maintaining the program's quality resulted in MESA attaining funds to reach even more students. Our efforts were recognized outside of the state, as MESA garnered two national awards: the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), and the Innovations in American Government award for outstanding creativity by a public institution.
The state's economic downturn during the past few years has resulted in a tremendous challenge for MESA. Our core state funding shrank from a high of $11 million in 2002–03, to the current $5.2 million for 2006–07, reflecting a 53 percent reduction. This cutback forced us to close programs and reduce funding to remaining MESA sites. Our staff, especially those in our local centers, have worked hard to maintain services to as many students as possible in the face of cuts in staff and other resources.
While our funding situation has yet to return to 2002 levels, I am pleased that MESA has continued to make significant gains. We have broadened our offerings to include more teacher professional development. We have new partners such as Johns Hopkins University, the National Science Foundation and Google.
Industry continues to demonstrate its commitment to support MESA, most recently with a $1.5 million gift from AT&T (see page 1) and $1.3 million from the California Utilities Diversity Council of the California Public Utilities Commission (see MESA Connect, Winter 2006). While MESA continues to rely on state funds to maintain our core infrastructure, these contributions have made a huge difference in our ability to reach many more students.
These achievements were only possible because of the immense dedication of our MESA staff, whose passion for the program and our students have helped stay the course through these changing times. I am honored to have worked with some of the most dedicated, creative and committed individuals I have ever met. My heartfelt thanks go to all of you.
I wish my successor all the best as he assumes the helm of this wonderful, dynamic program.
It's been a grand ride.
Michael Aldaco, Executive Director
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