Mona Scott Figueroa, Ed.D.

Residential Faculty - American Indian Studies and Sociology

Cultural Science, Philosophy & Religious Studies

Office: SC 14 - Room: 73

480-461-7064

480-461-7064 (alt)

Office Hours

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM11:00 AM - 2:00 PM1:15 PM - 2:15 PM 
By appointment   By appointment

On Wednesdays I am located in the American Indian Institute east of the clocktower.

Send a Google hangout invitation to [email protected] if you would like to meet.

Profile

Mona Scott Figueroa is Red Running into Water (T’achii’nii’), born for African Americans (Nahilii). Her maternal grandfather is from the Salt clan (Ashiihíí). She is from Birdsprings in the Navajo Nation. Her maternal grandparents are the late Louise Curley and the late Harris Curley. Her mother is Rene Scott and her father is the late Jimmy Scott, Sr. Her paternal grandmother is the late Exie Montague. Her siblings are many! Jimmee Crystal Scott, Jimmy W. Scott Jr., Tina Scott, Kevin Scott, the late Sherrine Scott, Sheila Carter, Shirley Scott, and Kenneth Scott. Mona earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University (ASU) with an emphasis on American Indian Studies. Her dissertation focused on strategies for retaining Native students at Mesa Community College. She also earned a BA in Sociology from the University of Southern California and an MA from ASU. Since 1999 she has taught Sociology and American Indian Studies at Mesa Community College. She also teaches in the Hoop of Learning (HOL) and Achieving a College Education (ACE) programs, high school-to-college bridge programs. Her teaching and research background includes Indigenizing education, inequalities, and power, emphasizing race and ethnicity. She draws heavily from life experiences growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Birdsprings on the Navajo Nation, and Winslow, Arizona.

Classes Taught

Spring 2025

AIS140 American Indian History 3 Credits

Survey of American Indian history with emphasis on the last 200 years. Focuses on cultural, economic, political and social continuity and changes. Topics include how federal policies impacted and were shaped by Indigenous peoples and how Indigenous individuals, communities, and nations have maintained cultural identity and sovereignty.

Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C], Historical Awareness [H], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
32679

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 05/09/2025

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

Class 32679 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

SOC101 Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits

The systematic study of social behavior and human groups, particularly the influence of culture, socialization, social structure, stratification, social institutions, differentiation by region, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, age, class, and socio/cultural change upon people's attitudes and behaviors. Prerequisites: None.

Course Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

General Education Designations: Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
26298
Dobson Campus
In Person
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 05/09/2025
MoWe
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Class Started

26318

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/13/2025 – 03/07/2025

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 26318 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

Spring Flex Start 2025

AIS141 Sovereign Indian Nations 3 Credits

Explores the sovereign status of American Indians as it relates to social relationships, traditions, and culture of American Indians. Reviews historic relations with non-Indian societies, the development of federal Indian law, tribal governments and their functions. Examines treaty rights, environmental issues, public policy, economic development, other current issues, and contemporary social problems. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C], Historical Awareness [H], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
26338

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/27/2025 – 05/09/2025

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 26338 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

SOC101 Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits

The systematic study of social behavior and human groups, particularly the influence of culture, socialization, social structure, stratification, social institutions, differentiation by region, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, age, class, and socio/cultural change upon people's attitudes and behaviors. Prerequisites: None.

Course Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less.

Zero-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of required online instructional materials for this "Z Class" is $0.

General Education Designations: Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
27426

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
03/17/2025 – 05/09/2025

Closed

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 27426 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

SOC141 Sovereign Indian Nations 3 Credits

Explores the sovereign status of American Indians as it relates to social relationships, traditions, and culture of American Indians. Reviews historic relations with non-Indian societies, the development of federal Indian law, tribal governments and their functions. Examines treaty rights, environmental issues, public policy, economic development, other current issues, and contemporary social problems. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C], Historical Awareness [H], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
26337

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/27/2025 – 05/09/2025

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 26337 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

SOC241 Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Credits

Examines how the social construction of race shapes social interaction and social institutions. Explores the consequences of power, privilege and oppression among major ethnic and racial groups in the United States. Prerequisites: None.

General Education Designations: Cultural Diversity in the US [C], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]
Section Location Delivery Dates Days Times Availability
27093

Online Course

Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
01/27/2025 – 05/09/2025

Class Started

Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified. Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information.

Class 27093 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected]

Degrees & Awards

Arizona State University, Educational Leadership and Innovation| EdD 2018

Arizona State University, Sociology| MA 1997

University of Southern California, Sociology| BA 1994

Inducted into Mesa Community College Hall of Fame, Excellence in Teaching, October 2020

Received Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Veora E Johnson, Spirit of Unity, Educator of the Year award 2015

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