ABOUT MESA University

Background

MESA started here in the Bay Area in 1970 long before the “STEM” acronym was used. A group of engineers at UC Berkeley led a grassroots effort with the goal of solving the problem that many STEM fields do not reflect the larger communities they serve. This is important as the diversity of backgrounds means diversity of thought and experience, and that is crucial to solving the challenges we are facing today. MESA began with 25 students at Oakland Technical High School and has now flourished into an award-winning program that now 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. To learn more, visit the MESA Statewide website

Mission Statement

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.