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IN THIS ISSUE A Body of Knowledge Investing in the Future Math, Science Students Find Special Help Toward Gainful Employment Chancellor's Column Development News Factoids Newsmakers Accomplishments by faculty and staff… |
Math, Science Students Find Special Help Although teachers often leave the classroom to move into more lucrative private sector careers, Rafael Alvarez, City College’s MESA program director, took the reverse route. Seeking to “improve the balance between family life and work” after the birth of his daughter in 1992, Alvarez traded his eight-year career as a communications systems engineer with TRW to become an educator. He began in 1994 as the college-industry liaison in City’s vocational education office. With the support of his dean, Armando Abiña, Alvarez was instrumental in bringing the MESA program to City College last year. MESA is a 30-year-old statewide academic support program for economically disadvantaged, transfer-track students in math, engineering and science. There are 33 MESA centers in California’s community colleges. In just its first year, City’s MESA program has become a model program serving more than 160 students. Through dedicated, hands-on involvement, Alvarez instills in his students the idea that anything is possible if they plan, prepare and conduct themselves professionally. In August, he arranged for the MESA kickoff organizational meeting to be held at Qualcomm headquarters, where this San Diego corporate leader pledged $500 in annual scholarships for the each of these five student chapters: Hispanic Professional Engineers, Women Engineers, Black Engineers, Pacific Asian Engineers and Students for Diversity in Science. Besides collaborating with industry leaders, Alvarez has developed a “Mentor Link” program for facilitating the adjustment of new students to City College and the MESA program. The goal is to match some 60 mentors to-protégés 1-to-1. “Incredibly,”
says Alvarez, “my personal journey has landed me in a position where
I can directly influence the lives of our students and help to lead them
back to where I came from.” |
 Rafael Alvarez, left, City College MESA program director, works closely with his students to ensure their academic success. Nine out of 10 MESA transfer students go on to major in math, science or engineering at four-year universities. |