Business Administration student Diego Bethea has been re-elected as Associated Student Government (ASG) President at San Diego City College. ASG student leaders are committed to serving and advocating for student interests by promoting diversity, community, and academic success. 

“Our student voices are really important. We take care of one another,” said Bethea, 20, who also served as the student trustee for the 2022-2023 academic year on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees. 

As a student trustee representative for City College, Bethea participated in state and federal advocacy from Sacramento to Washington, D.C., where he lobbied for more funding to be allocated toward various academic programs such as the San Diego Promise. He proudly met 

with elected officials such as Assembly Members Akilah Weber, David Alvarez, and Tasha Boerner Horvath; Representatives Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters, and Juan Vargas; and United States Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten. 

Before attending City College full-time in fall 2021, Bethea attended East Village Middle College High School (EVMCHS) where he dually enrolled at City College to start his transfer degree while earning a diploma. 

His dad served in the military, which meant moving around often during middle and high school. “We moved a lot,” he said. “It was not until my junior year that I started at East Village. I really enjoyed my time there because it was a small school and they supported me going to college.” 

At City College, Bethea’s favorite subjects are personal growth, a college, career, and life skills course, and English classes taught through UMOJA, which provides students a deeper understanding of African American culture. “It is fun to learn about differences in the community, because we are one,” said Bethea, who grew up biracial as Black and Mexican. 

In addition to thriving in academics, Bethea got involved early on while a student at EVMCHS with the City College UMOJA program, Muslim Student Association, and ASG. He started going to ASG meetings in 2021 online during the pandemic and was then elected as treasurer. Now he is serving his second term as ASG president. 

The City College ASG is currently focused on the school awards event and Club Rush to recruit more student leaders for the fall semester. Additionally, Bethea is planning an executive board ASG team building meeting. “Building a foundation for our members is key,” he said. “We can host different events that highlight the student journey from how to be a successful first-generation student, an international student, and advocating what it is like to go to college and balancing being a part of multiple campus clubs.” 

Bethea selected business administration as a major to learn entrepreneurial skills and business planning. Building a company, having a record label and a food franchise are just a few things Bethea looks forward to accomplishing. 

“I want to do this because each of these are forms of personal expression,” he said, “More importantly, I want to be able to provide healthier options to underrepresented communities, because there is a McDonald’s on every corner, which contributes to a diabetic epidemic. Providing whole foods to vulnerable communities makes it possible to live a healthy lifestyle.” 

Bethea will graduate from City College in spring 2024 and will apply to transfer to UC Riverside, CSU Los Angeles, or San Diego State University.