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.
Michael Valdez Raffanti, EdD
Antioch University Online
Educational History
- EdD. Leadership and Change, Fielding Graduate University, 2005
Dissertation: Weathering Change: A Grounded Theory of Organizations in Flux - MA Literature & Writing, Union Institute & University, 2012
Thesis: Challenging Heteronormativity: LGBTQ Young Adult Fiction - MIT. Teaching of Native American Learners, The Evergreen State College, 2000
Thesis: Family Involvement and the Self-Enhancement of Native Americans - JD Boston College Law School, 1989
- BA Philosophy and History, University of Portland, 1983
Book Chapters
Gregory, T.A., & Raffanti, M.A. (2010). Leveraging diversity. In R. Couto (ed.), Political and civic leadership, pp. 1013-1021. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Raffanti, M. A. (2010). LGBT-themed Hollywood cinema after Brokeback Mountain: renegotiating hegemonic representations of gay men. In B. Frymer, R. Kahn, A. Nocella, II, & R. Van Heertum (eds.) Hollywood’s exploited: Movies as public pedagogy and cultural politics, pp. 131-149. New York: Palgrave.
Refereed Journal Articles
Raffanti, M.A., & Gregory, T.A. (2012) “Climbing a Great Hill”: Integral Diversity Maturity illustrated in Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, 11(2), 171-184.
Gregory, T.A., & Raffanti, M.A. (2009). Integral diversity maturity: Toward a post-conventional approach to diversity dynamics. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice 4(3), 31-58.
Raffanti, M.A. (2008). Leaders sitting beside followers: A phenomenology of teacher leadership. Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research 3, 58-68.
Raffanti, M.A. (2005). Weathering change: Coping in a context of pervasive organizational change. Grounded Theory Review 5(1), pp. 55-75.
Refereed Articles in Conference Proceedings
Raffanti, M.A. (2006). Grounded theory in educational research: Exploring the concept of “groundedness.” In Ethnographic and qualitative research in education: Proceedings of the eighteenth annual conference, eds. P. Brewer & M. Firmin, Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Press, pp. 61-76.
Olson, M., & Raffanti, M.A. (2006). A grounded theory inspired approach to teaching: The emergence of grounded learning. In Ethnographic and qualitative research in education: Proceedings of the eighteenth annual conference, eds. P. Brewer & M. Firmin, Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Press, pp.31-46.
Raffanti, M.A. (2006). Teachers coping with pervasive organizational change: A grounded theory study. In Ethnographic and qualitative research in education: Proceedings of the seventeenth annual conference, eds. P. Brewer & M. Firmin, 147-164. Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Press.
Invited Publications
Raffanti, M.A. (2006). Theoretical synergy: Evolving understanding of organizational diversity dynamics. World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution 62(7), 551-560.
Raffanti, M.A., & Olson, M. (2006). Leverage points, paradigms and grounded action: Intervening in educational systems. World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution 62(7), 533-541.
Raffanti, M.A. (2006). Book Review: Discussion-based online learning: Theory and practice. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 7(3), 327–330.
Miscellaneous
Mosbrucker, C. & Raffanti, M.A. (1997). Eviction defense: A practical guide to representing tenants in San Francisco. San Francisco: Bar Association of San Francisco.
Raffanti, M.A. (1989). The role of speculation in the equitable distribution of property upon divorce. Boston College Law Review 30(2), 679-685.
Raffanti, M.A. (1989). Erosion of “subtle hazards” analysis jeopardizes safety and soundness of the banking system: Securities Industry Association v. Board of Governors (NATWEST). Boston College Law Review 30(3), 937-967.
Refereed Conference Presentations
“Integrating LGBT Fiction into the Elementary Classroom.” Diversity Conference, Olympic College, Bremerton, WA (2019).
“Ecopedagogy and Critical Multicultural Education: A Framework for
Teacher Education.” International Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations Conference, Granada, Spain (2016).
“Challenging Heteronormativity through Young Adult Fiction.” International Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations Conference, Darwin, Australia (2013). (Virtual)
“Integral Theory and Diversity.” International Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations Conference, Vancouver, Canada (2012).
“Leveraging Diversity: A Case Study of Malcolm X’s Life and Leadership” (Co-Presenter, T. Gregory). Tobias Leadership Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2012).
“‘Climbing A Great Hill’ Integral Diversity Maturity Illustrated in the Autobiographies of Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X.” International Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations Conference, Cape Town, South Africa (2011).
“LOL: Leadership Online: Teaching Leadership ‘Soft Skills’ in an Online Environment” (Co-Presenters, B. Goertze & S. Graham). International Leadership Association Global Conference, Boston, Massachusetts (2010).
“Integral Diversity Maturity Illustrated in the Lives of Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X” (Co-Presenter, T. Gregory). Integral Theory Conference, Pleasant Hill, California (2010).
“Integral Education: Implications for Transforming Multicultural Curriculum” (Co-Presenter, T. Gregory). National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) Conference, Denver, Colorado (2009).
“Metaphoric Thinking: Implications for Leadership Development.” International Studying Leadership Conference, Auckland, New Zealand (2008).
“Integral Diversity Maturity: Toward a Postconventional Approach to Diversity Dynamics.” (Co-Presenter, T. Gregory) Integral Theory Conference, Pleasant Hill, California (2008).
“Leaders Sitting Beside Followers: A Phenomenology of Teacher Leadership.” Ethnographic Qualitative Research in Education Conference, Cedarville, Ohio (2008).
“Dispositions in Teacher Education: Rethinking Approaches to Social Justice.” Northwest Association of Teacher Educators Conference, Seattle, Washington (2008).
“Phenomenological Bracketing and Grounded Theory.” Ethnographic Qualitative Research in Education Conference, Cedarville, OH (2007).
“Grounded Learning” (Poster Session, Co-Presenter, M. Olson). Ethnographic Qualitative Research in Education Conference, Cedarville, Ohio, (2006).
“Grounded Theory in Educational Research.” Ethnographic Qualitative Research in Education Conference, Cedarville, Ohio (2006).
“Teachers Coping with Change.” Ethnographic and Qualitative Research in Education Conference, Cedarville, Ohio (2005).
Invited Presentations
“Research Design.” Puyallup High School, Puyallup, WA (2019).
“Current Developments in Housing Law.” MLK Specialization Presentation, Union Institute & University Residency, Cincinnati, OH (2018).
“Rivers of Justice: Bridges of Love,” Presenter and Advisory Board Member at the Duquesne Educational Leadership Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA (2014).
“Assessing Social Justice Dispositions.” Duquesne Educational Leadership Symposium. Pittsburgh, PA (2012).
“Recent Developments in Education Law: Bullying and Free Speech.” Master of Education Residency, Union Institute & University, Montpelier, Vermont (2012).
“Integral Theory and Diversity.” Bay Area Cluster Meeting, Fielding Graduate University, Palo Alto, California (2009).
“White Identity Development and Gary Howard’s You Can’t Teach What You Don’t Know.” Teacher In-Service, Edgemont Junior High, Puyallup, Washington (2008).
“Grounded Theory and the Study of Organizational Change.” Western Governors University Faculty Colloquia, Salt Lake City, Utah (2006).
“Weathering Change: A Grounded Theory Study.” Fielding Graduate University’s Grounded Theory/Grounded Action Symposium, Tucson, Arizona (2005).
“An Introduction to Literature Circles.” Gospel Outreach School, Olympia, Washington, 2005.
UCEA Center for Educational Leadership and Social Justice, Advisory Board Member (2012-2015)
International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, Associate Editor (2011)
Proposal Reviewer, International Leadership Association (2012, 2019)
Proposal Reviewer, National Association for Multicultural Education (2009, 2013, 2019)
Celebration of Teaching Award, Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges & Universities (2014)
National Association of Multicultural Education, Peer Reviewer (2008 – 2011)
Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference, Peer Reviewer (2008 – 2012)
Special Recognition for University Service (NCATE accreditation) (2006)
Who’s Who among America’s Teachers (2004)
Freeman Foundation China Studies Scholarship (2004)
Finalist, Renton Chamber of Commerce Ahead of the Class Award (2002)
Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholarship (Japan) (2001)
The Evergreen State College Foundation Scholarship (1998 – 2000)
Pride Foundation Scholarship (1998)
Outstanding Alumni in Public Service Award, University of Portland (1995)
Boston College Presidential Scholarship (1986 – 89)
Member, International Leadership Association (2008 – Present)
Member, National Association for Multicultural Education (2008 – Present)
Courses Taught
Organizational Leadership and Development (Southern Arkansas University)
Qualitative Research Methods (Union Institute & University)
Literature Review (Union Institute & University and California Institute of Integral Studies)
Legal Issues in Education (Pre-K-12 and Higher Education) (Union Institute & University)
Law and Policy in Education (Union Institute & University)
Educational Leadership Internship (Union Institute & University)
Ethics and Social Justice in Education (Union Institute & University)
Current Issues in Education (Union Institute & University)
Education and Social Justice (Union Institute & University)
Dissertation Research (Union Institute & University)
Education, Society, and Culture (Union Institute & University)
Educational Policy (Union Institute & University)
Education, Sustainability, and Social Justice (Union Institute & University)
Leadership for a Complex World (Union Institute & University)
Focused Research Design (Union Institute & University)
Organizational Leadership Capstone Project (Union Institute & University)
Demonstration Teaching (Western Governors University)
Varieties of Scholarly Experience (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Transdisciplinarity (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Transforming Systems (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Ways of Knowing (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Ways of Relating (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Introduction to Transformative Leadership (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Building Communities and Coalitions (California Institute of Integral Studies)
Ecology of Ideas (California Institute of Integral Studies)