About Us

Office of Community Engagement

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) was established in 2021 to reflect the existing and aspirational offerings of the PCI unit funded by Educational Talent Search. While continuing to house SDSU Talent Search as its flagship program, OCE has expanded its scope to include several other distinct offerings.

OCE's primary focus is to work with youth and young adults, connecting them to higher education and early work experiences. The office provides person-centered services for students and their families in the areas of post-secondary planning, leadership, personal growth, and educational and economic attainment.

Furthermore, OCE invests in developing reciprocal relationships with school leaders, university faculty and administration, local representatives, and community-based organizations. By leveraging our collective expertise, we aim to positively contribute to educational and economic equity in the region.

group of students in front of Hepner Hall — Holding Community Close Over the Years

group of previous generation students in front of Hepner Hall — Holding Community Close Over the Years

Serving San Diego County

Our office partners with educators, parents, and community organizations to support students achieve their dreams.

Message from the Director

This office is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive support to our students and their families. I look forward to my continued work with school leaders, university faculty and administration, and community-based organizations to leverage our collective expertise and further our shared mission of empowering and strengthening our schools and communities.

Nada Stevens

Director and Reflective Writing Specialist

Office of Community Engagement

advisor at college fair speaking to student — Gerardo Chagolla is our family coordinator and advisor for the Talent Search Program.

Gerardo Chagolla

" Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid of standing still"- Chinese proverb.

"As a program, we will be along to provide support for your individual journey, whatever it may be. With everything ahead, reach out to us so we can continue supporting your path and growth."

Gerardo Chagolla serves students at the O'Farrel and Southwest High Schools.

advisors and students take group photo at UCSD field trip — Alexis Rodriguez is an advisor for the Talent Search Program.

Alexis Rodriguez

"I want my students to remember that your world does not close when things do not go as expected. Your timeline will not be linear and not everyone’s path will look the same.You all are capable of doing things that provide fullfillment, so long as you do the work and ask for help along the way. As your Talent Search advisor I want you to trust that I am confident in your abilities and will help guide you the best I can with your educational endeavors."

Alexis Rodriguez serves students at the Castle Park and Montgomery High Schools.

Making History

Over the years, we have build up our office, our programs, but most importantly our community. By collaborating with partner schools, faculty and community supporters we have been able to uphold our mission of advancing the education and resources accessible to underserved students. Click below to view some of our hallmark moments and achievements.

A group of students take a group photo together

1964 - 1968TRIO Programs

By the late 1960s, the term "TRIO" was coined to describe these federal programs (funded by the U.S. Department of Education) that help students overcome economic, social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education.

Presenter is standing centerstage while facing a full auditorium of students listening to their speech/presentation

1983 - PresentSDSU Institute for Transformative Education

Founded by Dr. Cynthia Park, the Institute for Transformative Education (ITE), formerly known as the Pre-College Institute, became an official center of the university in the early 2000s. In the early 1980s, Park began work to establish the infrastructure that supports the Pre-College Institute. ITE continues to promote college access and completion for underserved students, implements innovative programs to enhance excellence in teaching and learning in multicultural settings and studies their outcomes.

A group of students pose for a group photo while holding a large sign with the words "Talent Search Program" on them

1992 - PresentTalent Search Program was created

The U.S. Department of Education awarded SDSU ITE its first Talent Search grant, creating the SDSU Talent Search program to provide college advising services to underserved San Diego communities.

A man is giving a document to sign, he hoists his pen in the air ready to sign, there are a couple of men surrounding his desk

07/02/1964Upward Bound

The history of TRIO began with Upward Bound, which emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty.

10/31/1968Student Support Services

In 1968, Student Support Services was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments and became the third in a series of educational opportunity programs.

09/01/1983SDSU ITE is founded

Dr. Cynthia Park founded the Institute for Transformative Education (ITE), formerly the Pre-College Institute, at San Diego State University.

Students listening to each other while seated at a roundtable

07/01/2008Pathways

The Pathways office was created to provide SDSU students a supportive learning community of scholars, enrolling in a service-learning course and engaging in an early fieldwork experience. SDSU students provide in-class and after school support in math, science, AVID, English, Spanish, and early literacy in 25 partner schools. Tutors build community, earn course credit, and give back. We have paid and volunteer positions available each semester.

An advisor sits at his desk, staring and typing into his computer

06/20/2016SDSU ITE Launches Destination: College

Destination: College is a project designed to mitigate summer melt (when prospective college students fail to matriculate in the fall after high school graduation). The services we provide consist of 1) Proactive counselor outreach to students and 2) Text messaging campaigns to students, identifying important summer tasks to complete.

Students are sitting in a lab and they are examining a balloon shark

07/01/2010SDSU ITE STEM² Exploration Day

The SDSU Institute for Transformative Education invited and welcomed local students and teachers to join us for our first annual STEM Exploration Day, filled with labs and hands-on workshops focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

There is a large auditorium and center stage there sit some presenters while students listen to them from the seating stands

03/21/2023Career Day

The Institute for Transformative Education (ITE) hosted its first Career Day for 7-9th grade students at San Diego State University. Students learned more about the PCI programs, listened to a career and college student panels and participated in different career workshops.

A group of men crowd a man sitting at his desk who is signing a document

11/08/1965Talent Search

In 1965, Talent Search, the second outreach program, was created as part of the Higher Education Act.

A group of students hold up a banner as they parade down the street

07/01/1992Educational Talent Search

SDSU ITE was awarded its first Talent Search grant to provide college advising services in 6 San Diego high schools and 4 middle schools. Academic Advisors meet with students one-on-one or in small groups to explore career choices, review academic course requirements, inform students about SAT and ACT registration, assist students with college and financial aid applications. Students also have the opportunity to participate in college visits throughout California.

A student group photo, 20-30 students are in front of a building

01/01/2017Talent Search Mentoring

SDSU ITE was awarded a second Talent Search grant, allowing the program to expand and provide services to two additional schools (Lincoln and O’Farrell) and one additional middle school (Bell).

A group of students take a closer look at a large and complex machine in front of them

07/11/2022Robotics Camp

The SDSU Systems and Intelligence (SMILE) Lab and SDSU Talent Search partnered to host a week-long Robotics Camp where high school students from different backgrounds learned about coding and STEM pathways. Students got the opportunity to explore the SDSU campus, visit STEM labs and practice with Robots and drones.

A group of students circle a water fountain.

06/01/2018Summer Leadership Academy

SDSU Talent Search staff hosted a week-long summer camp for 9-12th grade students. The Summer Leadership Academy offered engaging team-building activities and workshops regarding college readiness, digital literacy, social and storytelling skills (to name a few) in order to increase their potential for academic success in the upcoming school years as a way to identify future student mentors for their younger peers

Group of students are gathered inside a lab

07/08/2019YSP-Reach

Also known as the Neuroengineering Camp, YSP-Reach allows students to engage in hands-on activities and gain exposure to research in the fields of computer science, engineering, cognitive science, math, and more. YSP-REACH is a program through the Center for Neurotechnology, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center headquartered at University of Washington, with MIT and SDSU as core partners. SDSU professor, Dr. Mahasweta Sarkar, is the center’s co-director of education, and has partnered with our Talent Search program to connect with talented young scholars from local high schools.

A student group stand in front of a university building for a group photo

01/01/2021Office of Community Engagement is created

The Office of Community Engagement was created to house the Talent Search Advising services and include work with community-based organizations and early workforce opportunities.

Students are in the classroom, an advisor is standing near their desks ready to assist them

09/01/2022Talent Search Grants add Twain and SD Adult School

The 2022 grant renewal of SDSU Talent Search included the addition of Mark Twain High School and San Diego Adult School, allowing the program to serve non-traditional students in high school.

Contact Us

Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

PCI Office of Community Engagement

5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-1103

619-594-1219
[email protected]

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