About
The MESA College Prep Program is part of MESA’s college and career prep work that focuses on student achievement in science, technology, engineering and math. The program is one of three MESA segments that serve students across the educational pathway, alongside Community College and University programs. It is part of a statewide effort that serves almost 25,000 middle school, high school, community college and university students throughout California each year.
MESA’s history includes a grassroots effort that began with 25 students at Oakland Technical High School in 1970. The program is stewarded by the University of California Office of the President and is supported by more than 70 MESA centers throughout California. MESA’s college prep program is led in part by the College Prep Programs Lead, Beatrice Prieto, and is supported by a leadership team that includes Executive Director Thomas Ahn, Interim Deputy Director Marvin Maldonado, Director of Development Mindy Rieger, Administrative Assistants Marilyn Baker and Sandy Jacoby, Coordinator of Research Evaluation and Information Management Justin Ilumin, Strategic Communications and External Engagement staff member Danielle McNamara, and Data Analyst Katie Mills. MESA’s work is guided by the belief that all students have the potential to succeed, and that the program works to ensure students in California have access to mentoring, experiences, networks and other resources they need in order to earn degrees in calculus-based STEM fields and pursue careers in STEM. Industry leaders partner with MESA to strengthen their workforce pipeline, and each partnership is tailored to benefit individual companies. MESA’s long history with industry and its network of alumni are identified as key components of the program. MESASpace is a new MESA online community that serves as a one-stop shop for MESA information and a hub for campus-related communications, statewide MESA news, events and programs, and connections among students and alumni. MESA reports that its students are more likely to be admitted to a University of California campus, with 80% admitted compared to 67% for California students overall, and that the top five degrees of MESA undergraduate students are Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Engineering. In 2025, G.M. Walters Middle School and Middle College High School teams from California were named the MESA National Engineering Design Competition Champions. Testimonials from former participants describe how MESA influenced their interest in engineering and STEM, including statements from professionals at Google, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, PG&E, and Kiewit.
Last updated April 1, 2026.
MESA’s history includes a grassroots effort that began with 25 students at Oakland Technical High School in 1970. The program is stewarded by the University of California Office of the President and is supported by more than 70 MESA centers throughout California. MESA’s college prep program is led in part by the College Prep Programs Lead, Beatrice Prieto, and is supported by a leadership team that includes Executive Director Thomas Ahn, Interim Deputy Director Marvin Maldonado, Director of Development Mindy Rieger, Administrative Assistants Marilyn Baker and Sandy Jacoby, Coordinator of Research Evaluation and Information Management Justin Ilumin, Strategic Communications and External Engagement staff member Danielle McNamara, and Data Analyst Katie Mills. MESA’s work is guided by the belief that all students have the potential to succeed, and that the program works to ensure students in California have access to mentoring, experiences, networks and other resources they need in order to earn degrees in calculus-based STEM fields and pursue careers in STEM. Industry leaders partner with MESA to strengthen their workforce pipeline, and each partnership is tailored to benefit individual companies. MESA’s long history with industry and its network of alumni are identified as key components of the program. MESASpace is a new MESA online community that serves as a one-stop shop for MESA information and a hub for campus-related communications, statewide MESA news, events and programs, and connections among students and alumni. MESA reports that its students are more likely to be admitted to a University of California campus, with 80% admitted compared to 67% for California students overall, and that the top five degrees of MESA undergraduate students are Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Engineering. In 2025, G.M. Walters Middle School and Middle College High School teams from California were named the MESA National Engineering Design Competition Champions. Testimonials from former participants describe how MESA influenced their interest in engineering and STEM, including statements from professionals at Google, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, PG&E, and Kiewit.
Last updated April 1, 2026.
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