Michael Stanford 

History

I began my academic career at California PolytechnicState University in San Luis Obispo, close to the small coastal town where I grew up. At Cal Poly Iwas fortunate enough to study under several fantastic history professors who inspired me to major in history. While focusing mostly on U.S. and European studies, I often took courses outside my focus area and courses in the other social sciences. In fact, at an early age I developed a very broad and inclusive view of what education is.

After finishing my BA at Cal Poly, I went on to study for my MA in U.S. history at San Francisco State University. My graduate school years were extremely fulfilling and prompted me to seek out more knowledge and new experiences by moving to Europe.

For the past ten years I have been teaching American and European history in Paris. Living abroad for so long was an incredibly enriching experience, and the time I spent traveling and studying in over seventeen countries has given me a deeper understanding of European history and culture. 

I recently returned to the U.S. to settle down in the Bay area, and was fortunate enough to begin teaching at Cañada College in the fall of 2006. At present I am working with a fantastic dean and colleagues to create a new vision for the history department and the social sciences in general.