MASP Overview: Then and Now

 

While many of the core components of MASP have remained the same over its 24 years existence, there have been many changes as well. Originally the Minority Arts & Science Program, MASP was formed in 1993 to serve traditionally underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in the biological sciences. The program was started as with the goal of retaining talented and capable students in these fields, by providing a supportive academic community.

In 2008, MASP was renamed the Miramontes Arts and Science Program both to honor the late Dr. Ofelia Miramontes, a tireless advocate for students from diverse backgrounds, but also to better reflect an expanded mandate.

MASP now serves students from across the College of Arts & Sciences. While a majority of our undergraduates are still in the natural sciences, we also have many students in the social sciences, arts, and humanities. MASP serves approximately 150 high achieving and talented students from traditionally underrepresented groups and/or first-generation college students.  MASP works to provide students with sense of belonging and assists them in reaching their goals by guiding them to make the most of a liberal arts education at one of the country’s premier research universities.

Staffing MASP are our Program Director (Dr. Celeste Montoya), a Program Assistant (Roshanne Ebrahimian), and two Assistant Directors (Drs. Karen Ramirez and Kate Semsar), who teach MASP courses and serve as faculty mentors for our students. Kate mentors students in the STEM fields and Karen mentors students in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. We continue to accept students into MASP primarily through our summer bridge program, the Program for Excellence in Academics and Community (PEAC).