Second-year student Zora Williams is using her voice to bring more mental health and nutrition programming to San Diego Mesa College. Williams was elected president of the college's Associated Students (AS) for the 2024-2025 academic year and serves as the college's student representative on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.
"This new role has been a really good learning opportunity. At first, I felt a little nervous knowing the other (student) trustees are political science majors and are heavily involved in politics," reflected Williams, 21, on winning the election in the spring. "It is exciting to learn more about governance and to really see how change is made in our country, in our city, and at Mesa."
After studying online for a year at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, she enrolled at Mesa College to study mathematics and humanities.
"My mom and my god parents work in higher education. Achieving my degree is a big thing for me," said Williams, whose goal is to transfer to Spelman College, a historically Black, women's liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. "Living in San Diego there is not a big Black community," she said. "I have often been the only Black person in academic settings. Spelman would provide an excellent education where race and ethnicity is not a barrier."
Before she can attend her dream HBCU, Williams is taking her time to make an impact at Mesa College. "As the ASG president and student trustee, I get to be a voice for people who won't get to be heard or can't be heard," Williams said. "We can have more collaboration across student-run organizations to strengthen the college’s multicultural lens." Mesa College is the leading college of equity and excellence and is among the largest community colleges in California with 30,000 students enrolled each year.
While the institution already has a number of support resources, Williams is concerned about increasing the immediate well-being of students on campus. She and the AS leaders are working to create more mental health resources, an interclub council, an open gym policy, and to bring in healthier foods to the cafeteria. In addition, Williams is continuing her involvement with Mesa’s UMOJA community, which provides a deeper understanding of the African American diaspora, and the Asian Pacific Diversity club. She is learning grant writing in her freetime to support with funding for healthy lunches.
"When people come to Mesa, I want them to feel welcome and like they belong here," said Williams, who felt that same sense of camaraderie from Mesa College President Ashanti T. Hands. "Having Dr. Hands as our college president makes me feel comfortable being the student president. Seeing another Black woman carrying herself so proudly and with grace makes me look up to her and want to be like her."
Following her studies, Williams has plans to work as a data scientist.
Board President Bernie Rhinerson swears in the four student trustees during the June 2024 Board of Trustees meeting. From left, Rhinerson, Dalia Ramirez (City College), Haydee Zuniga (College of Continuing Education), Zora Williams (Mesa College), and Hailey Hua (Miramar College).