AAHHE Community College Award

The AAHHE Community College Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in advocacy, teaching, or leadership and has provided significant contributions to the community college enterprise.

2024 Community College Award Recipient

Rafael Alvarez, MS
Director
Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program 
San Diego City College

Rafael Alvarez is the Director of the San Diego City College (SDCC) Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program, an academic support program for students transferring to four-year universities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. He grew up in east San Diego. Like his MESA students, he was once a first-generation college student, economically disadvantaged, and underrepresented in a STEM major. His students know him as the Corner Man!

Rafael founded the SDCC MESA Program in 2000, and he began transforming the MESA model in 2009 by using “learning culture” to increase student success. In 2021, he captured his learning culture praxis in Turning on the Lights: Using Learning Culture to Increase Student Success.

In recognition of Rafael's exemplary achievement in contributing to the success of MESA Program students at SDCC, a Hispanic Serving Institution, he was awarded the 2012 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College. Rafael is also the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award from the San Diego County Engineering Council.

Rafael has earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California.

List of past recipients of the AAHHE Community College Award: