Feb 21, 2024 – MESA USA is excited to announce our inaugural Executive Director – Jenny Lawson.

Jenny is a passionate science educator and proud graduate of Montana State University. While at Montana State, she became actively involved in gender equity and advocacy through student senate, campus organizations, and local organizations.

After witnessing several inequities in STEM education, access, and encouragement, Jenny became an advocate for educational equity. She spent the next decade as a science teacher, coach, and instructional and curriculum leader in Title 1 schools throughout the Midwest, south, and east coast. Jenny holds a post-master’s certification in Administration and Supervision from the University of Loyola, Maryland and continues to be an active advocate for social change.

Jenny joins an alliance of states that provides leadership in equity and access for STEM, achieves programmatic excellence, and ensures national program sustainability.

MESA is a time tested national program with over 50 years of service to students and educators. The program’s core values promote nurturing community and culturally responsive approaches to STEM education and careers. Our national network of public education, university, industry, and public sector partners collaborate to provide a flexible method to expand the impact of MESA within states and across the nation with a focus on equity and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students.

MESA USA is the national consortium of MESA programs operating in ten states.  MESA USA works toward a more equitable country where under-represented students of color are empowered to achieve their dreams through mastery of STEM disciplines to create prosperity in our communities

We look forward to Jenny’s leadership and service to MESA USA.  Please feel free to reach out to Jenny at jenlawson@mesausa.org and know that she may be in communication as she seeks to continue to move forward with our MESA USA Strategic Plan.