Michael Valdez Raffanti has a varied professional background in education and social justice. A California native, he completed his Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy at the University of Portland, and his Juris Doctor at Boston College Law School. He also holds a Master in Teaching from The Evergreen State College where he focused on multicultural and anti-racist education. He earned his Doctor of Education degree from Fielding Graduate University. Michael became interested in an educational career while practicing poverty law in San Francisco. He has taught third grade in urban settings and served in a variety of educational leadership roles. Michael has online and low residency university teaching and administrative experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His research interests are in leadership studies, qualitative methodologies, and social justice education. He served as dean of the PhD Program in Interdisciplinary Studies at Union Institute & University and is currently the director of Antioch University’s EdD in Educational and Professional Practice. He also active in animal rescue efforts in Mexico and the Pacific Northwest.