Dear Alumni and Community Members,



As the new President of Mesa Community College, over the summer I have been meeting with faculty and staff as well as local leaders and community members. I have been impressed with the heartfelt dedication to MCC, our students, and our community. I love hearing the stories of success and the resounding commitment to our future. 

As a first-generation college student from the mining town of Superior, AZ, I deeply understand that when someone from a family has an opportunity to pursue a college education, it's a transformational opportunity not only for the student, but for their family and community. 

I believe in the power of postsecondary education to transform lives, and I have made this my life's work. This fall marks my 30th year on a college campus, and my 36th year in higher education. Every year of my career, I have had the privilege of championing efforts for students to access postsecondary opportunities. Servant leadership is a guiding principle of my career. The philosophy of servant leadership says that people choose first to serve, and then grow into leadership as a way of expanding that service to individuals and institutions.

MCC is renowned for collaborating with the community to improve the quality of life of students and contribute to a robust Arizona workforce and economy. Generous donations from business and industry have enabled us to expand the Mesa College Promise Program beyond graduating high school students to include adult learners. Mesa College Promise is a commitment from the City of Mesa to its residents that all eligible students can attend MCC for two years with Arizona resident tuition and registration fees fully funded. Community support is funding new programs this semester including Licensed Practical Nursing, Construction Trades and IT.

As we welcome our fall semester Thunderbirds, MCC is preparing for its 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation. Accreditation assures the quality and integrity of our programs and services, enables our students to obtain financial aid and veteran services, and allows students to transfer credits to other accredited colleges and universities. A team of peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission will conduct a comprehensive visit on March 31 and April 1, 2025. MCC's Accreditation Core Planning team convened last year to begin preparations and an Accreditation 2025 Task Force is being created with additional experts for each HLC criterion. 

I invite you to visit our campuses. MCC offers a wealth of activities open to the community –theater, music, dance, art, festivals, athletic games, workshops and many exciting happenings. Watch for ways to participate in the college’s 60th Anniversary Celebration starting in January 2025. 

Adelante!

Richard Daniel, Ph.D. 

President

Mesa Community College