Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Message from San Diego Mesa College President

Message from San Diego Mesa College President on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

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At San Diego Mesa College, equity begins with truly seeing our students—not just as learners but as whole individuals with unique histories, talents, and aspirations. It reflects the essence of the South African greeting Sawubona—“We see you”—a recognition of one’s worth and potential. When we fully see our students and one another, we commit to understanding their needs, honoring their experiences, and removing barriers that stand in their way.

But recognition alone is not enough; equity demands action. Equity-driven leadership requires reshaping policies, reallocating resources, and dismantling structures that limit opportunity. It means constantly asking: Who is unseen? Who is unheard? How must we evolve to ensure every student is valued, supported, and empowered?

Our transformative equity-based leadership requires courage, accountability, and a shared commitment to meaningful change. By centering equity, embracing diversity, and using data to inform our decisions, we actively remove barriers that have historically marginalized students. This work is not about maintaining the status quo—it is about challenging it and relentlessly closing gaps in access and success.

I lead with hope, joy, and the belief that education is one of the greatest forces for liberation. That hope is not passive—it is a call to action, a responsibility to create conditions where all students can succeed. But hope alone is not enough; it must be built through action, care, and an unwavering commitment to progress. At Mesa, we do more than open doors; we ensure that every student who walks through them is truly seen, heard, and positioned to thrive.

Dr. Ashanti Hands
President | San Diego Mesa College

Diversity Declaration and Policy

At Mesa College, we commit ourselves to the following pledge:

I declare myself to be a person of honor.
I declare myself to be a person of integrity.
I declare myself to be a person of knowledge and understanding.
I am committed to living my life with an inclusive mindset.
I am committed to diversity regardless of color, age, class, citizenship, country of origin, ethnicity, gender, language, marital status, mental ability, nationality, personal expression, physical ability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or religion.
This is my commitment.
I accept people who may be different from me.
I respect others as I respect myself.
I don’t buy into stereotypes.
I challenge unfair generalizations.
I continually educate myself about our unique differences.
I initiate conversations to encourage mutual learning.
I choose to see myself in everyone I meet.
I embrace the value that each of us brings to the world.
I intervene whenever I see discrimination happening.
I work with our campus to demonstrate that hate will not be tolerated at Mesa College.
I strive for a campus culture that is free of discrimination.
I participate in events that promote cultural awareness.
I am a valuable part of a campus that celebrates freedom, dignity and mutual respect.
This is my declaration.
We are all part of one global family.
WE ARE MESA!

Policies

The Mesa College Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion & Equity supports the District's commitment to ensuring a safe academic and working environment that is free from sexual harassment and discrimination.

Committee for Diversity Action, Inclusion & Equity

Diversity Definitions

A - C

Ableism

Prejudiced thoughts and discriminatory actions based on differences in physical, mental and/or emotional ability; usually that of able-bodied/minded persons against people with illness, disabilities or differently developed skills/talents.

Accessibility

The extent to which a facility is readily approachable and usable by individuals with disabilities, particularly such areas as the personnel office, worksite and public areas.

Acculturation

The process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group; the cultural modifications of an individual or group by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture; a merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact; e.g. those who live in the United States near the border of Mexico often use "tomorrow" and "manana," as well as many other words and phrases from English and Spanish, interchangeably.

Adultism

Prejudiced thoughts and discriminatory actions against the young; the power adults have over young people.

Androgyne/Androgyny/Androgynous

A person whose biological sex is not readily apparent, whether intentionally or unintentionally; a person whose identity is between two traditional genders; a person who rejects gender roles entirely; someone who reflects an appearance that is both masculine and feminine or who appears to be both a boy and a girl or neither gender.

Antisemitism

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Assimilation

The process of adapting or adjusting to the culture of a group or nation; the process by which a person or persons acquire the social and psychological characteristics of a group; e.g. "Waves of immigrants have been assimilated into the North American culture."

Biases

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person or group compared with another, usually in a way considered unfair.

Color-Blind Approach

A strategy for improving race relations by not noticing color, which unfortunately comes across as counterproductive to the improvement of U.S. race relations, due to the following:

It is impossible to not notice color.
This strategy discourages meaningful dialogue about race.
It encourages people to ignore, deny or disregard inequities involving race.
Thereby it unwittingly supports the status quo, wherein racial inequities are commonplace.

Culture

Learned patterns of perception, values, and behavior shared by a group of people, that are dynamic and heterogeneous; involves emotions, feelings and a sense of belonging.

Cultural Competence

Refers to an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures; the state of having and applying knowledge and skill in four areas:

The awareness of one's own cultural worldview
The realization that there are different cultural practices and worldviews
The recognition of one's attitude towards cultural differences
Thoughtfulness and skill in cross-cultural interactions

Cultural Intuition

An expectant feeling or inclination based on personal experiences, family history, ancestry and community memory in concert with the collective cultural, economic, educational, political, social, and spiritual environments.

D - F

Discrimination

Behavior that results from stereotyping and prejudice; over actions to exclude, avoid or distance oneself from other groups; may be based on racism or any other "ism" related to belonging to a cultural group (e.g. sexism, ageism, elitism, etc.)

Diversity

The sum of the ways people are both alike and different; dimensions of diversity include, but are not be limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, language, culture, class, religion, mental ability, physical ability, country of origin and immigration status; while not itself a value-laden term, reactions to diversity are driven by values, beliefs and attitudes, etc. The full acceptance of diversity as helpful, positive and desirable is a major principle of social justice.

Diversity & Inclusion

If Diversity is "The Mix" then inclusion is "Making the Mix Work;" Diversity may be seen to be the composition of individuals in a group. Inclusion may be seen to include the requisite programs and organizational strategies which welcome and embrace the strengths each person brings to the group

Domestic Partner

Either member of an unmarried, cohabitating couple, including same-sex couples who seek benefits usually available only to spouses.

Dominant Culture

The cultural values, beliefs, and practices that are assumed to be the most common and influential within a given society.

Drag Queen/King

A man or woman dressed as the opposite gender, usually for the purpose of performance or entertainment; often the portrayal of which is overdone or outrageous and may represent a "stereotyped image."

Ethics

Principles of conduct that help govern the behavior of individuals and groups; often arise from communities' views on what is good and bad behavior; cultural values tell us what "good" and "bad" ought to be

Ethnocentrism

Belief that one's own cultural group is superior to all other cultural groups; usually equated with nationality.

Equity

Involves acknowledging diversity, recognizing and celebrating our differences and eliminating the barriers that prevent the full participation of all peoples; improving equity is to promote justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes and distribution of resources by institutions or systems; tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the underlying or root causes of outcome disparities within our society.

F to M/FTM/F2M (Female to Male)

An abbreviation used to specify the direction of sex or gender role change; usually used by those who identify as transsexual.

First Nations People

Individuals who identify as those who were the first people to live on the Western Hemisphere continent; people who also identify as Native Americans.

G - I

Gay

A man who is attracted to other men (adj.); describing such men.

Gender

The socially constructed concepts of masculinity and femininity; the so-called "appropriate" qualities accompanying biological sex; the behavioral, cultural or psychological traits typically associated with masculine or feminine.

Gendered

Having a denotative or connotative association with being either "traditionally" masculine or feminine.

Gender Bending

Dressing or behaving in such a way as to question the traditional feminine or masculine qualities assigned to articles of clothing, jewelry or mannerisms.

Gender Policing

The imposition or enforcement of normative gender expressions on an individual who is perceived as not adequately performing, through appearance or behavior, the sex that was assigned to them at birth.

Hapa

A Hawaiian language term used to describe a person of mixed Asian or Pacific Islander racial or ethnic heritage.

Hate Speech

A particular form of verbal communication that can lead to (or reflect) prejudice and/or discrimination; legally defined as speech that is "intended to degrade, intimidate or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their group membership: race, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical ability, language ability, moral or political views, socioeconomic class, occupation or appearance (including height, weight and hair color), mental capacity and any other distinction/liability."

Heterosexism

The presumption that everyone is, and should be, heterosexual.

Heterosexual

Attracted to members of the other or the opposite sex.

Homogenous Population

A population where all individuals can be regarded as the same type.

Homophobia

The fear or hatred of persons who are (or who are perceived to be) gay or lesbian; the fear or hatred of homosexuality (and other non-heterosexual identities).

Homosexual

Attracted to members of the same sex; (not a preferred term; see Gay, Lesbian).

Internalized Racial Opression

The psychic costs of internalized racial oppression defined as the individual being indoctrinated by racial stereotypes, values, images and ideologies perpetuated by the dominant society about one's racial group;this leads to feelings of self-doubt, disgust and disrespect for one's race and/or oneself; this emphasis on an individual's psychological wounds is evident in a legacy of personal, often anecdotal, struggles with internalized racial inferiority.

Intersectionality

The process of experiencing multiple forms of oppression at the same time; for example, a Black Muslim lesbian, which argues that the experience of being a Black woman cannot be understood in terms of being Black and of being a woman, considered independently, a Muslim and a lesbian, yet another intersection; these intersections frequently reinforce each other and intersect, creating oppression and discrimination from different directions.

J - M

Lesbian

A woman who is attracted to other women (adj.); describing such women.

LGBTA

An acronym encompassing the diverse groups of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered populations, and allies (or alliances/associations).

LGBTQA

An acronym encompassing the diverse groups of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and allies.

LGBTIQQ

An acronym encompassing the diverse groups of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intersex, queer, and questioning.

Marginalized

Excluded; ignored; relegated to the outer edge of a group, society, community.

Melting Pot Theory

The idea that after people enter the United States, they will eventually "blend into American society" by virtue of time and socialization until they will eventually become blended or undifferentiated from any other person in this country. This theory or metaphor does not consider that not all immigrants can be assimilated into the U.S. in the same way; additionally, the danger of this theory is that it "metaphorically" erases the importance, validity and necessity of the cultural identities of entire populations.

Microaggressions

A form of unintended discrimination; depicted by the use of known social norms of behavior and/or expressions, that while may be without conscious knowledge of the user, has the same effect as conscious, intended discrimination; racial microaggressions are generally brief, daily or commonplace indignities resulting from verbal, behavioral or environmental assaults due to ignorance and unconscious bias; whether intentional or unintentional, these words or actions communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.

Model Minority

Refers to a minority ethnic, racial or religious group whose members achieve a higher degree of success or social status than the population average; this success is typically measured in income, education, and related factors such as low crime rate and high family stability.

Multiplicity

The quality of having multiple, simultaneous social identities (e.g. being male and Buddhist and working class).

Multiracial

Individuals with more than one racial heritage; individuals whose parents have more than one race in their genetic histories.

Multiethnic

Individuals with more than one ethnic heritage; individuals whose parents have more than one ethnicity in their genetic histories.

N - Q

Naming

To articulate a thought, which traditionally has not been discussed.

National Origin

The country or place from which an individual hails; may or may ot be the same as that person's current location or place of citizenship; associated with a place of political origin.

Pansexual

Referring to the potential for sexual attractions or romantic love toward people of all gender identities and biological sexes; the concept of pansexuality deliberately rejects the gender binary and derives its origin from the transgender movement; also referred to as "omnisexuality" or "polisexuality."

Patriarchy

A government or societal system in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from power and decision-making.

People of Color

A collective term for men and women of Asian, African, Latin and Native American backgrounds; as opposed to the collective "White" for those of European ancestry.

Personal Identity

How we view and define ourselves as individuals; those characteristics we ascribe to for ourselves, including, but not limited to name, gender or gender preference, family history, cultural history, personality, talent, occupation and any other attribute that makes us unique and different from other individuals.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward a cultural group based on little or no experience; a pre-judgment.

Queer

An umbrella term which can refer to anyone who transgresses society's view of gender or sexuality; the definitional indeterminacy of the word Queer, its elasticity, is one of its constituent characteristics, i.e., "A zone of possibilities."

Questioning

A term used to refer to an individual who is uncertain of her/his sexual orientation or identity.

R - S

Race

"As a social concept, a group of people who share similar and distinct physical characteristics;" science has long proven that there is only one human race; the social concept is the only viable instrument of racism, using physical characteristics to favor some people over others. In 1950, the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) issued a statement asserting that all humans belong to the same species and that "race" is not a biological reality, but a myth; this was a summary of the findings of an international panel of anthropologists, geneticists, sociologists and psychologists.

Racial Profiling

Refers to the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin; criminal profiling, generally, as practiced by the police, is the reliance on a group of characteristics they believe to be associated with crime. Examples of racial profiling are the use of race to determine which drivers to stop for minor traffic violations (commonly referred to as "driving while black or brown") or the use of race to determine which pedestrians to search for illegal contraband. Another example of racial profiling, ongoing since the September 11th attack, is the targeting, of Arabs, Muslims and South Asians for detention on minor immigrant violations in the absence of any connection to the attacks on the World Trade Center or the Pentagon.

Racism

Discriminatory actions, including poor treatment, exclusion or violence by those in power against one or more races based on ignorance, hatred and the false belief that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of one or more races over others; the beliefs and attitudes that are supportive of these discriminatory actions.

Rainbow Flag

The Rainbow Freedom Flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker to designate the great diversity of the LGBTIQ community. It has been recognized by the International Flag Makers Association as the official flag of the LGBTIQ civil rights movement.

Re-fencing

A cognitive process for protecting stereotypes by explaining any evidence/example to the contrary as an isolated exception; exception-making.

Safe Space

Refers to an environment in which everyone feels comfortable in expressing themselves and participating fully, without fear of attack, ridicule or denial of experience.

Same Gender Loving (SGL)

A term coined by activist Cleo Manago as a description for homosexuals, particularly in the African American community; SGL is an alternative to Eurocentric homosexual identities, e.g. gay and lesbian.

Saliency

The quality of a group identity of which an individual is more conscious and which plays a larger role in that individual's day-to-day life; for example, a man's awareness of his "maleness" in an elevator with only women; in terms of sex, biological classification of male or female (based on genetic or physiological features) as opposed to gender.

Sexism

Discriminatory actions or unfair treatment based on differences in sex/gender; usually by men against women; the prejudicial views and attitudes that underlie such behaviors.

Sexual Orientation

One's natural preference in sexual partners; predilection for homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality or pansexuality.

Silencing

The conscious or unconscious processes by which the voice or participation, of particular social identities, is excluded or inhibited.

Social Identity

Involves the ways in which one characterizes oneself in relation to others; the affinities one has with other people; the ways one has learned to behave in stereotypical social settings; the things one values in oneself in connection with the world; the norms one recognizes or accepts governing everyday behavior.

Self-Awareness

Having the knowledge and understanding of one's own personality, character or culture; understanding and being present with one's own attitudes, beliefs, worldview and sense of purpose; sometimes begins as a journey into another culture and reality and ends as a journey into one's own culture and reality.

Self-Reflexivity

Having an image or reflection of one's own self; the process by which we "look in the mirror" to see ourselves.

Stereotype

A widely held belief or generalization about a group of people; a way of categorizing based on generalized assumptions (n); a simplified or standardized concept or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group (n); to give a fixed form to (v); to characterize or regard in a fixed way (v).

T - Z

Tolerance

Acceptance and open-mindedness to different practices, attitudes and cultures; does not necessarily mean agreement with the differences (n).

Transgender

Appearing as, wishing to be considered as, or having undergone surgery to become a member of the opposite sex; transgendered people could include transsexuals, cross-dressers, drag kings or queens, masculine women, feminine men and those who defy what society tells them is appropriate for their gender.

Transphobia

The fear or hatred of homosexuality, behavior associated with other non-heterosexual identities and/or any behavior associated with those who are perceived to be transgendered or transexual.

Transexual

A person who identifies as a gender other than that of their biological sex.

Two Spirit

A Native American term for individuals who identify both as male and female; in western culture, these individuals are identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered.

Unconscious Bias

A prejudice we have or an assumption that we make about another person based on common cultural stereotypes, rather than on a thoughtful judgment; also known as "implicit social cognition." "Implicit bias" refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious way.

White Privilege

A term used to refer to the societal privileges that benefit white people in western countries beyond what is commonly experienced by the non-white people under the same social, political or economic circumstances. According to McIntosh and Lee, whites in a society considered culturally a part of the Western World, enjoy advantages that non-whites do not experience; this is an "unearned" privilege that leads to the controversy over whether or not White people should be able to enjoy these privileges; the term denotes both obvious and less obvious passive advantages that white persons may not recognize they have, which distinguishes it from overt bias or prejudice. These include cultural affirmations of one's own worth, presumed greater social status and the freedom to move, buy, work, play and speak freely; the effects can be seen in professional, educational and personal contexts; the concept of white privilege also implies the right to assume the universality of one's own experiences, marking others as different or exceptional, while perceiving oneself as normal.

Worldview

The perspective through which individuals view the world; comprised of their history, experiences, culture, family history and other influences.

Diversity Resources

Student Resources

Faculty Resources

Inclusive Language

Transforming Our Classrooms

Arab Americans

African Americans

Local Resources

National Resources

Asian Americans

Hispanic/Latin Americans