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 reflects
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.
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.
Danielle McNamara - Strategic Communications and External Engagement
Brenda Salguero - College Program Coordinator
Rita Torres - College Prep Program Coordinator
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.
Dawn Carter
Zachary Cohen
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.
Aneita Gage - Intel
Thomas Hughes - Lyft
Chris Norris - Ubisoft
Cynthia Temesi - Cisco
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Duane Valz - Zymergen
Michael Wolf - Pearce Services
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
Student Leadership Conference Committee
Each year, the MESA Statewide Office invites corporate partners and MESA center leaders to assist in the planning and execution of the Student Leadership Conference. Committee members help facilitate and secure resources, and provide feedback on the structure of the event.
Paul Baik, Lyft
Dawn Carter
Anndee Francisco, Applied Materials
Charles Martin, Intuit
Nicole Mincin, Applied Materials
Silvia Morales, San Diego Gas & Electric
Gina Raquipiso, San Diego Gas & Electric
Michael Wolf, Pearce Services
We're Here To Help!
MESA Statewide Office
300 Lakeside Drive, 7th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612-3550
Call Us
(510) 987-9337