Wednesday, January 21, 1998
Program helps minorities gain access to math, science fields
SCIENCE Students from underrepresented groups receive help
By Steven Tanamachi
Daily Bruin Contributor
For Julique Lewis, it took some fear out of the future.
Lewis, who graduated last fall with a degree in chemical
engineering, has been a member of the Mathematics Engineering
Science Achievement (MESA) program since high school.
UCLA’s MESA program, which supports students from disadvantaged
backgrounds studying math and science, helped Lewis find her way
into the university, and depart with a degree.
"To a high school student that doesn’t know much about college,
it’s really significant," she said. "It’s intimidating – the
college process. MESA gives a lot of information and made it less
scary."
For his unparalleled work of improving educational opportunities
for these students, Rick Ainsworth, head of UCLA’s program, was
recently named the MESA Engineering Program (MEP) Director of the
Year.
"What MESA does is create openings and opportunities," he said,
"so talented and high-potential students gain access to math,
engineering and science and achieve in those areas. Representation
(of ethnicities at UCLA) is out of sync with the population."
Just one part of the MESA program, the MEP program concentrates
on students majoring in engineering and computer science. It offers
services such as workshops and academic advising.
Illustrative of the program’s success, 50 percent of MEP
students graduate with engineering degrees, compared to the
national average of 35 percent of underrepresented freshmen.
Another MESA program tutors and advises students from
kindergarten to 12th grade, a third concentrates on the education
of American Indians, and a fourth aids community college
students.
The program is unique because it unites students from
kindergarten to graduate school in collaborative projects,
Ainsworth said.
MESA’s ultimate aim is to get more students from
underrepresented backgrounds into engineering jobs.
"His program has helped many disadvantaged students to meet
their full potential," said Michael Aldaco, MESA’s statewide
director.
"Rick has developed the most comprehensive MESA center in
California."
Ainsworth knows about being a student in the Golden State,
having earned his bachelor’s degree in urban planning and public
administration from USC.
Now his work involves motivating his old cross-town rival Bruins
and younger students to earn their degrees as well.
He was the director of CSU Northridge’s MEP for seven years, and
associate director for three years. He’s headed UCLA’s MESA since
1989.
Regardless of what school he is at, his favorite part of the job
is "linking students with where their interests are."
The program’s success is known transcontinentally. According to
Aldaco, policy makers all the way from Washington D.C. come to MESA
for consultation.
The most gratifying part of the job, Ainsworth said, is "not
only to see (the students) develop, but take on responsibility,
tutor and give back."
This shows that "the spirit and community we built is carried
on," he said.
A large part of the director’s job is lobbying corporations for
funds. MESA’s investors include Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Chevron and
Walt Disney.
Not only have the grants increased the flexibility of the MESA
and MEP programs, but they have also connected a number of students
to jobs and internships.
MESA has cultivated students’ talents and motivation into a
valuable asset in the workplace, and has given students a chance to
get a foot in the door of the engineering industry.
For Lewis and others facing a similar anxiety, the program has
provided the necessary guidance.
"When you can create opportunities," Ainsworth said, "That’s
inspiration."