The College of Engineering recently added two volunteers, Jaklen Keshishyan and Noe Mora, as part of the CSU STEM VISTA program. A national service movement, VISTA asks its volunteers to serve full-time for one year in support of STEM education. Nine CSU campuses are a part of the program, and the College of Engineering is the only engineering school participating on its own.

Keshishyan is involved in increasing interest, participation, and retention and graduation rates in engineering among historically underrepresented and underserved populations, including women. She will be involved in various outreach efforts.

“It is one thing to believe in change and another to take an active role in making it possible,” Keshishyan says.

Mora will work in the college’s Maximizing Engineering Potential program to address engineering courses that have low student completion rates by expanding the college’s tutoring services. Mora will help identify and implement improved tutoring approaches with the objective of improving student success in the college.

“As a former participant of many programs and organizations that target at risk youth, I have come to understand the benefits of community role models,” says Mora.