Theresa De Los Santos, Director of the Orange Coast College MESA Program, the Science and Engineering Tutoring Center (SETC) and the STEM Accelerator, has been selected as a recipient for the National Resource Center’s Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates. De Los Santos is one of only two recipients in the two-year colleges category nationwide to be honored.
"This award reflects what we see every day—Theresa’s unwavering commitment to helping first-year STEM students believe in themselves and their future," says Vice President of Instruction Tara Giblin. "She leads with compassion and vision, building pathways where students not only succeed but truly feel they belong."
For several years, De Los Santos has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at supporting first-year students and those navigating critical academic transitions in STEM disciplines. Under her leadership, the programs she oversees have established a robust framework designed to facilitate success for students in STEM fields. This includes personalized academic counseling, tutoring, study groups, and peer mentorship programs aimed at equipping students with the necessary tools to thrive in college-level STEM coursework. With dedicated spaces on campus for both the MESA and STEM Accelerator programs, students have streamlined access to academic and social support services, fostering connections with peers in the STEM community. These environments help students build confidence, develop effective study strategies, and cultivate a sense of belonging right from their first semester.
The MESA program and STEM Accelerator work in tandem to support a diverse range of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. MESA’s equity-focused model facilitates pathways for first generation, calculus-based STEM students from community college into four-year universities, while the STEM Accelerator broadens these supports to include low-income STEM students who may not qualify for MESA. Combined with the SETC’s robust tutoring and study group offerings, these programs connect students with hands-on learning experiences, field trips to four-year institutions, industry-aligned internship opportunities, university research opportunities, and professional conferences.
"I am so fortunate to do this work to support Orange Coast College students," says De Los Santos. "MESA students continually inspire me with their tenacity, enthusiasm, and resilience."
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, in collaboration with Penguin Random House Publishing, recognizes individuals on the nation's campuses who are Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates involved in high-impact practices for first-year student success.
De Los Santos will be honored at the 45th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience, taking place from February 15-18, 2026, in Seattle, Washington.
"This award reflects what we see every day—Theresa’s unwavering commitment to helping first-year STEM students believe in themselves and their future," says Vice President of Instruction Tara Giblin. "She leads with compassion and vision, building pathways where students not only succeed but truly feel they belong."
For several years, De Los Santos has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at supporting first-year students and those navigating critical academic transitions in STEM disciplines. Under her leadership, the programs she oversees have established a robust framework designed to facilitate success for students in STEM fields. This includes personalized academic counseling, tutoring, study groups, and peer mentorship programs aimed at equipping students with the necessary tools to thrive in college-level STEM coursework. With dedicated spaces on campus for both the MESA and STEM Accelerator programs, students have streamlined access to academic and social support services, fostering connections with peers in the STEM community. These environments help students build confidence, develop effective study strategies, and cultivate a sense of belonging right from their first semester.
The MESA program and STEM Accelerator work in tandem to support a diverse range of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. MESA’s equity-focused model facilitates pathways for first generation, calculus-based STEM students from community college into four-year universities, while the STEM Accelerator broadens these supports to include low-income STEM students who may not qualify for MESA. Combined with the SETC’s robust tutoring and study group offerings, these programs connect students with hands-on learning experiences, field trips to four-year institutions, industry-aligned internship opportunities, university research opportunities, and professional conferences.
"I am so fortunate to do this work to support Orange Coast College students," says De Los Santos. "MESA students continually inspire me with their tenacity, enthusiasm, and resilience."
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, in collaboration with Penguin Random House Publishing, recognizes individuals on the nation's campuses who are Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates involved in high-impact practices for first-year student success.
De Los Santos will be honored at the 45th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience, taking place from February 15-18, 2026, in Seattle, Washington.