Mesa Community College

MCC was launched by Mart Godinez in 1963 as an extension branch of Phoenix College and was located at 809 W. Main Street in Mesa. There were 330 students registered for classes the first semester at Mesa Extension on September 11, 1963. Mesa students voted Hokams as the nickname for their athletic teams in 1964. Capital funds from the bond election in 1964 enabled Mesa Community College to purchase 120 acres, with an option to purchase an adjoining 40 acres, for the new campus at Dobson and Southern Roads in Mesa. The three building campus was designed by Mesa architects Horlbeck, Hickman & Associates and Tempe architect Kemper Goodwin, and built by Tibschraney Bros. Construction Company. In addition to the three permeate buildings portable buildings were used for the first several years, until the campus was able to expand.[1] On April 12, 1965, the Maricopa Junior College District Board named Mesa Community College and Glendale Community College as separate institutions from Phoenix College. Mesa Community College graduated its first class on its new campus in ceremonies May 29, 1968. In 1974, MCC's mascot changed from Hokam to Thunderbird. The Outback Theater was built in 1978. Bar code technology came to the library in 1987 as part of a new automation system. Bar codes were assigned to every item in the library's collection, and appeared on student ID cards for the first time.[2]

Phase I construction began for Red Mountain Campus in 2000, which included four buildings: the Desert Willow Building (library & commons), Mesquite Building (student & administrative services), Palo Verde Building (classrooms & laboratories), and the Ironwood Building. (central plant). A groundbreaking ceremony was held in April, 2000.

The college has two comprehensive campuses and additional locations to serve students.

• Southern and Dobson, in southwest Mesa, Arizona (full-service)
• Red Mountain, in northeast Mesa (full-service)
• Mesa Downtown Center, near University Dr. and Center St.

The Arizona Gakuen School (アリゾナ学園 Arizona Gakuen), a weekend supplementary Japanese school, holds its classes at the Mesa Community College Southern and Dobson campus. The school office is in Tempe.[3]

August 2016, Sasan Poureetezadi was named interim president of Mesa Community College. On April 2, 2018, Richard Haney was named president. He assumed office on July 1, 2018. As of January 2020, Lori Berquam was named interim president.

MCC offers more than 200 degrees, transfer, career and certificate programs. Areas of study include Agribusiness, Business, Bio Technology, Computer Science, Dental Hygiene, Electronics, Engineering, Fire Science, Mortuary Science, Nursing, Urban Horticulture and more. MCC is one of the largest transfer providers to ASU, while many programs prepare students for immediate entry to the job market. Traditional, online and hybrid courses provide flexibility for students. Additionally, MCC Community Education offers hundreds of non-credit classes providing opportunities for lifelong learning in the arts, technology, fitness and personal development for all age groups.

MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

• Randy Bennett, college basketball coach
• Larvell Blanks, professional baseball player
• Hubie Brooks, professional baseball player
• Mike Brown, professional basketball coach
• Bryan Caldwell, professional football player
• Dave Collins, professional baseball player
• Ralph Dickenson, professional baseball player
• Dave Farnsworth, American politician and Republican member of the Arizona Senate
• Rod Gilbreath, professional baseball player
• Rick Grapenthin, professional baseball player
• Shea Hillenbrand, professional baseball player
• Kyle Kingsbury, wrestler and football player; current mixed martial artist[4]
• Barry Lersch, professional baseball player
• Albie Lopez, professional baseball player
• Marko Mitchell, professional football player
• Jim Otten, professional baseball player
• Bob Pate, professional baseball player
• Ken Phelps, professional baseball player
• Matt Salmon, former congressman
• Danny Sanchez, college soccer coach
• Greg Sparks, professional baseball player
• Clifford Starks, professional mixed martial artist[5]
• Vance Wilson, professional baseball player

• Official website