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.

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.

Learn More

Thomas Ahn - Executive Director

Thomas.Ahn@ucop.edu

Juanita Muniz-Torres - Deputy Director

Juanita.Muniz-Torres@ucop.edu

Mindy Rieger - Director of Development

Mindy.Rieger@ucop.edu

Marilyn Baker - Administrative Assistant

Marilyn.Baker@ucop.edu

Justin Ilumin - Coordinator of Research Evaluation and Information Management

Justin.Ilumin@ucop.edu

Sandy Jacoby - Administrative Assistant

Sandra.Jacoby@ucop.edu

Danielle McNamara - Strategic Communications and External Engagement

Danielle.McNamara@ucop.edu

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.

Chair: Duane Valz , insitro

Dawn Carter, Uber

Aneita Gage, Intel

Kenneth Forward, PG&E

Felicia James, Carollo Engineers

Kelly Johnson, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Chris Norris , Electronic Arts

Amanda Thomas, Peraton

Tommy Zoppa, Uber

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.

Raul Arambula - 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