Program Logo for MESA

The K-12 STEM Center develops strategies and builds initiatives to meet the needs of a diverse population, specifically in efforts to increase the representation of female students and African American/Black, Hispanic/LatinX/Latine, Native/Indigenous students in its STEM programs, such as MESA. Some of those efforts include outreach, mentorship, and scholarships. However, all STEM Center programs are open to all students in compliance with Federal and State law, as well as University policy.

  • Imagination

  • Innovation

  • Ingenuity

  • Inventing the Future!

MESA College Prep at the University of Southern California is part of a statewide program that partners with local middle and high schools to propel student diversity and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The MESA Statewide program provides a pathway of academic services from middle school through university level to broaden the diversity of students who graduate with degrees in STEM.

College prep activities at USC include hands-on STEM activities, MESA Day projects and competitions, Catalina Island STEM Exploration, STEM field trips, Student Leadership Retreat, college and career preparation, MESA Day Project Academies, annual Awards Gala, robotics competitions, MESA advisor/teacher trainings, and parent/family empowerment and information sessions.

For over 45 years, USC MESA has served more than 15,000 middle and high school students. Each year, more than 98% of USC MESA graduating seniors attend two-year and four-year colleges and more than 60% of these students declare majors in STEM fields. USC MESA currently serves over 30 schools, 1,200 middle and high school students and over 35 teachers.

MESA Calendar
Partner Schools
MESA Advisors
MESA Students
MESA Day

USC MESA Staff

Ben Louie, Director, blouie@usc.edu  

Anne Areta, Program Coordinator, aareta@usc.edu

Jennifer Corletto, Program Coordinator, jennifer.corletto@usc.edu

Graduate Assistants

Princeton Brooke, princeton.brooke@usc.edu

Ricardo Rendon, rendondu@usc.edu

Claudia Zambrano, cz41106@usc.edu

Undergraduate Assistants

Melissa Alvarez, ma44387@usc.edu

Daniel Gonzalez, danielg2@usc.edu

Julie Menendez, jmenende@usc.edu

Shyam Patel, shyampat@usc.edu

Emily Santos, santossa@usc.edu 

Thank you to our Sponsors

USC MESA Celebrates 22 Years of Partnership with Panda Express to Promote the Spirit of Giving and Caring.

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The Annual MESA Senior Gala is made possible by the USC Civic Engagement Galen Center Community Program.

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We thank the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for being the sponsor of MESA Family Day.

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USC MESA is a member of the STEM PUSH Network, an NSF alliance.
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Published on January 11th, 2017

Last updated on December 6th, 2023