In collaboration with Qualcomm, Dr. AndrĂ© Branch and his Students With Academic Goals (SWAG) program were able to tour San Diego’s Qualcomm facilities to give local middle school students a glimpse into the work of the telecommunications corporation.
Branch, an associate professor in the School of Teacher Education, directs the SWAG program which aims to serve students of color from SDSU, NAACP, and the San Diego Unified School District. It was through SWAG that he and other faculty from Bell Middle School were able to take 27 SWAG participants to tour the facilities of Qualcomm.
SWAG participants toured three of the Qualcomm facilities, learning about the intricate work of the telecommunications giant. Faculty and students were the guests of the Qualcomm African & African American Diversity (QAAAD), an employee network whose mission is to support Qualcomm objectives through employee development, recruitment, community outreach and professional networking.
Through the visit to Qualcomm facilities, students were able to see the myriad opportunities that await them if they utilize their middle- and high-school learning opportunities well. Dr. Branch’s work with SWAG, along with the other faculty and students who make the program successful, continues to create many opportunities for students of color in both the SDSU and greater San Diego community.