He is a fifth generation Californian, who grew up on a family farm near Lodi, California.
His present occupations include being an Associate Professor of Sociology at Sonoma State University, where he teaches classes in Media Censorship, Power, Class Stratification and Social Welfare. He writes op-ed pieces for alternative and independent media outlets including Z magazine and Social Policy. He speaks frequently on media censorship and is often a commentator on radio and television talk shows including: Talk of the Nation, Public Interest, Talk America, World Radio Network, Democracy Now!, and the Jim Hightower Show.
Other endeavors include 25 years of of community service, and social activism including War on Poverty administration, Head Start direction and refugee assistance consultation. His academic qualifications are: