510.522.7221

Emergency
510-466-7236
Facebook Twitter Instagram Android Apple
CANVAS
DONATE
SPRING 2025 CLASS SCHEDULE (PDF)
Enroll Now Button

MESA Connect Project

MESA Connect
Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA)
ACCESO

The MESA Connect Project is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program in collaboration with CSU East Bay (CSUEB) at College of Alameda (CoA). Our mission is to improve educational outcomes in STEM for historically excluded populations at College of Alameda. 

Table of Contents

MESA Location

Overview:

The MESA Connect Project is a NSF Pilot project in collaboration with CSUEB (2021-2024). Mesa Connect Project has four main objectives:

  1. Creation of a STEM focused Summer Bridge course at CoA: Design and Implement Pilot Summer Bridge Course “STEM Discovery Course”

  2. Improve STEM Teaching and Learning at CoA: Design MESA Connect first year learning community

  3. Increase STEM Opportunities for CoA Students: Increase STEM course success by offering wrap around services for MESA Connect Students such as peer mentoring, tutoring, MESA Counseling

  4. Professional Development: Professional Development to build Institutional Capacity: 25 CoA Faculty complete STEM, CURE, and/ or Cultural Competency PD.

STEM Discovery Summer Bridge :

STEM Discovery Course is a Summer Bridge course aimed at engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

This six week course is designed to explore STEM majors and careers. Over the six weeks, students gain insight into STEM related educational opportunities. Guest speakers who are experts in the field speak to the class, students explore hands-on science, receive mentorship from STEM CoA Professors, reflect on college and career paths, and more. 

MESA Outcomes

MESA Connect Grant Outcomes:

The MESA Connect Project at College of Alameda is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and  aims to increase the enrollment of Latinx students in STEM programs and increase their rates of success and retention in STEM courses, leading to increased persistence, graduation, and transfer on STEM degree pathways. Students will establish bonds with STEM faculty, California State University East Bay (CSUEB) near-peer mentors, the MESA director and counselors, and the ACCESO (Adelante con Comunidad, Excelencia, Sabiduría y Oportunidad) Center director and counselors, and peers in MESA Connect. MESA Connect will excite students about applied STEM learning and research through Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) that will be woven into their fall semester courses. In collaboration with CSUEB, we deliver comprehensive student support services, including:

    • academic tutoring
    • professional and near peer mentoring
    • faculty advising
    • transfer support services
    • campus resources for health and financial aid

MESA Connect Team

Project Staff

COA_logo

Reza Majlesi

Dean of STEM

MESA Connect

Principal Investigator

COA_logo

Leslie Reiman 

   Anatomy Professor 

MESA Connect Co-Principal Investigator

COA_logo

Monika Sommerhalder

CSUEB Faculty Mentor

SubAward Co-Principal Investigator

COA_logo

Alex Madonik

Chemistry Professor

COA_logo

 Connnie Wehenmeyer 

  Biology Lab Coordinator

Biology Professor

COA_logo

Christine Trowbridge 

  MESA Connect Project Manager

COA_logo

Yamini Bhatnagar

  STEM Discovery Lead Professor

COA_logo

Maria Somma

   Chemistry Professor

Student Leaders

COA_logo

Melissa Zibouche 

CoA MESA Ambassador

COA_logo

Perla Castillo

MESA Ambassador

COA_logo

Yvonne Hernandez

MESA Ambassador

COA_logo

Giulia Vukazich 

MESA  Chemistry Tutor

Project Partners

MESA College SubAward  Partner:

  • Cal State East Bay

MESA College District Partners: 

  • Alameda Unified School District (AUSD)
  • Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

MESA Connect Project Partners: 

  • CCURI (Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative)
  • SESI (STEM Equity and Success Initiative)
  • HACU (Hispanic Association of College and Universities)
  • MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement)
  • SHPE (Hispanic Professional Engineers)
  • SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science)

Contact

Questions? Contact CoA MESA Connect Project Manager: Christine Trowbridge

MESA Connect Contact Info