SAN DIEGO — A program in San Diego is helping men of color as they work to earn a degree.

What You Need To Know

  • The Men of Color program aims to address the unique challenges faced by men of color in higher education

  • The program provides students with academic help and other resources

  • According to the National Center for Education Statistics, men of color graduate from higher education institutions at lower rates than other students their same age

  • The Men of Color initiative at Southwestern College is celebrating one year on campus

As a player on the football team, Nathan Simmons knows how important it is to work together for success. He’s a freshman at Southwestern College, and he’s also getting support off the field.

Simmons is part of the Men of Color program, which aims to address the unique challenges faced by men of color in higher education.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, men of color — which include Black, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islander — graduate from higher education institutions at lower rates than other students their same age.

“I am the first person within my close family as far as I know to ever go to college,” Simmons said.  

The Men of Color program is open to anyone but focuses on helping students like Simmons by providing academic help, financial resources and community support on campus.   

Keith Turner, Ed.D. is the director of the Men of Color Success and Excellence department. He knows from personal experience how valuable extra support can be.

“It took me several years to graduate,” Turner said. “I was a first-generation college student and so I didn’t know how to navigate the system.”

With the Trump administration seeking to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, Turner says their state-funded program is more important now than ever before.

“Seeing what’s going on politically and stuff, it is worrisome because it’s impacting a lot of people,” Turner said. “And when you look at educational equity specifically, it’s needed. We look at data; everything we do is based on data. We’re not in our feelings, we’re not making things up, we’re not being biased; we are looking at our data as an institution and we’re saying ‘What do our students need? How can we be better to serve them?’”

Simmons hopes to transfer to a four-year university and get a double degree in culinary and business. He knows it will be hard, but is thankful for a safety net.

“In the Men of Color, they’re not just connecting and doing the bare minimum, like they’re always checking up on you and always doing the extra most,” he said.  

The Men of Color initiative at Southwestern College is celebrating one year on campus this month.