David Rosengrant (left), interim director of education at St. Petersburg and a STEM professor, is one of the leaders of USF’s MESA program. Rosengrant believes St. Petersburg is “the ideal location to initiate this program.”
Courtesy of USF
By Molly Ryan
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg has introduced another program designed to support underserved students.
According to an April 1 press release, USF became the first Florida institution selected to host a chapter of the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Schools Program.
An award-winning program, MESA is geared toward providing academic support in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to pre-college and university students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
“We are incredibly excited the USF St. Petersburg campus will be the initial host for MESA,” said David Rosengrant, interim director of education at St. Petersburg and STEM professor, according to the press release. “With our emphasis on STEM education, a growing technology and innovation district in downtown St. Petersburg and expanding technology labs in education on the campus, it is the ideal location to initiate this program.”
As the leaders of USF’s MESA program, Rosengrant and College of Education Dean R. Anthony Rolle plan to work with schools throughout the Tampa Bay area in hopes of bringing both support and awareness of the education and career opportunities in STEM to underrepresented populations.
“As a California MESA graduate, I am very excited to develop a program at USF that continues to provide academic, economic and social justice opportunities for students of color, young women and low-income students,” Rolle said, according to the press release. “The opportunities and pathways that the USF MESA Program will create as the program matures will be instrumental in pathway support for both future STEM students and educators in STEM subjects.”
Accepting applications in the 2022-2023 school year, USF’s MESA program will provide its students with access to STEM enrichment activities, mentorship programs and career shadowing opportunities.
MESA was first established in 1969 as a pre-college, community college and university preparation program in California. The program currently serves over 50,000 students annually, from kindergarten to fourth-year college students, across nine states.
“We envision a more equitable country where underrepresented students of color are empowered to achieve their dreams through mastery of STEM disciplines to create prosperity in our communities,” said Dwight Carr, chair of MESA USA and executive director of the Maryland MESA chapter.
Florida will be the 10th and most recent state to host the MESA program.
“On behalf of MESA USA, we welcome the University of South Florida and Florida MESA as new national partners that will help us to achieve our mission and help us to move closer toward our vision of a more equitable STEM ecosystem for today’s students,” Carr said.
In its first year, USF’s MESA program will focus on developing a curriculum and onboarding staff to build partnerships with local schools.
While currently housed at St. Petersburg, the program eventually plans to include students across all three USF campuses.
