A group of talented Diablo Valley College MESA students recently joined industry professionals in San Francisco for an invite-only STEM conference designed to build future leaders in engineering and computer science.
The MESA Student Leadership Conference, held at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, brought together hand-picked community college and university students for an immersive 30-hour challenge. Teams were tasked with designing a product or service aimed at addressing one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—an experience that tested creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving under pressure.
MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) supports diverse students from underrepresented backgrounds as they pursue STEM education and careers. At the conference, DVC students had rare opportunities to connect directly with company executives, engineers, and recruiters. Many participants leave with meaningful professional connections that often lead to internships or full-time roles.
In addition to the team challenge, students attended leadership and communication workshops and participated in a company expo featuring representatives from leading STEM employers.
“MESA's Student Leadership Conference provides an incredible opportunity for our community college and university students to gain invaluable career development skills to kick-start their STEM careers,” said MESA Executive Director Thomas Ahn. “Our students represent the skills, passion and potential that California desperately needs to enrich our workforce and strengthen our communities.”
This year’s conference was supported by sponsors including Carollo Engineering, Keysight Technologies, Edison International, PG&E, Qualcomm, and Uber. Professionals from these companies also volunteered their time to host workshops, staff career fair tables, and mentor student teams.
Two leaders were recognized with the Ray Landis Impact Award: Diana Gomez, senior project director for HNTB (2024 honoree), and Juanita Muniz-Torres, former MESA statewide deputy director (2025 honoree), for their visionary contributions to diversity and STEM education.
