About Us

Our mission is to help underserved and underrepresented

students achieve success in STEM studies and careers.

Our vision is to see California’s STEM workforce reflect

the diversity of its population. 

Statewide Staff

Industry Advisory Board

Intersegmental Steering Committee

Alumni Committee

Student Leadership Conference Committee

Our History

On the heels of the civil rights movement, a group of concerned educators and community activists in the California Bay Area created MESA. Its goal: provide the academic support, resources and career exploration needed to increase the number of minority students graduating from undergraduate engineering programs.

A grassroots effort that began with 25 students at Oakland Technical High School in 1970 has flourished into an award-winning program that serves almost 25,000 middle school,  high school, community college and university level students throughout California each year. MESA’s long history with industry and its vast network of alumni are key components    to success.

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Thomas Ahn - Executive Director
Juanita Muniz-Torres - Deputy Director
Mindy Rieger - Director of Development
Marilyn Baker - Administrative Assistant
Justin Ilumin - Coordinator of Research Evaluation and Information Management
Sandy Jacoby - Administrative Assistant
Marvin Maldonado - Undergraduate Programs Lead
Danielle McNamara - Strategic Communications and External Engagement
Katie Mills - Data Analyst
Beatrice Prieto - College Prep Programs Lead

Statewide Staff

The MESA statewide office provides oversight and consistency in messaging and curriculum for the 70 MESA centers throughout California.

MESA is stewarded by the University of California Office of the President.

Industry Advisory Board

The Industry Advisory Board consists of industry leaders who commit to advocate for, partner with and build resources for MESA. MESA is currently recruiting a diverse set of industry leaders to participate.

Dawn Carter, MESA board vice-chair

Director, Global Talent Acquisition, Uber

Aneita Gage

Technical Training Specialist (retired), Intel

Ken Forward, MESA board chair

ERG Program Manager, PG&E

Felicia James

Vice President, Carollo Engineers, Inc

Duane Valz

Vice President and General Counsel, Valz Legal, Inc

Kelly Johnson

Program Manager, Talent Outreach, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Chris Norris

Senior Director, Electronic Arts (EA)

Amanda Thomas

Operation Manager, Peraton

Monica Tejeda

Civil engineer, Tetra Tech

Intersegmental Steering Committee

The Intersegmental Steering Committee (ISC) is comprised of top representatives from the following education partners: University of California (UC), California State Universities (CSU), California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), and the California Department of Education (CDE).

The ISC provides intersegmental strategic leadership and guidance to CA MESA in defining and implementing its operations, resource generation and research/evaluation agendas in a manner consistent with its vision, purpose and strategic goals.

LaTonya Williams - CCCCO
Ray Murillo - CSU
Kari Stewart -- UC
Thomas Vu - AICCU
California Department of Education (CDE)

Alumni Committee

The MESA Alumni Committee consists of professionals in diverse stages in career and industry areas. The committee fosters strengthening the MESA Alumni Network through guidance, planning and outreach.

Charles Anderson -- Anderson Pine Corporation
Katya Echazarreta -- NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
Aneita Gage -- Intel
Oscar Garcia -- Aspira
Marvin Lopez -- UC Berkeley
Milton Randle -- Consultant
Rae Jillian Rivera -- Walt Disney Imagineering
Armando Santana -- Blast Motion, Inc
Lupe Segura -- Genentech
Juan Zepada -- Raytheon
We're Here To Help!

MESA Statewide Office

1111 Franklin Street, 10th Floor

Oakland, CA 94607 

Call Us

(510) 987-9337