Dr. Michael A. (Mike) Moodian, a lifelong resident of Orange County, has served on the Chapman University System faculty since 2007. He is currently an associate professor of social science at Chapman-affiliated Brandman University and a writing instructor at Chapman’s College of Educational Studies. He codirected the 2010 State of Orange County Survey.
Mike has authored two books: a graduate textbook titled “Contemporary Leadership and Intercultural Competence” (Sage, 2009) and a pictorial history of the ranchos of South Orange County titled “Images of America: Rancho Santa Margarita” (Arcadia, 2010).
He has been a guest op-ed contributor on social and political issues for publications such as the Orange County Register, San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Daily News, Honolulu Advertiser, Riverside Press Enterprise, and La Opinión. Boxing Digest commissioned him to write the story of Tommy Harrison, a former heavyweight boxer depicted by Samuel L. Jackson in the movie “Resurrecting the Champ,” in 2008. The article highlighted Harrison’s statements, who was homeless and living in Santa Ana, that the movie’s producers never paid him for his story.
Mike organized and moderated two major political debates: the October 2009 California gubernatorial debate and the March 2010 U.S. senatorial town hall forum. The 2009 event was the first political debate in U.S. history to incorporate the popular microblogging service Twitter.
He chairs the United Nations Association of Orange County Advisory Board, is a member of the consultative school board of Santa Margarita Catholic High School (where he serves on the technology committee), a member of the UC Irvine Olive Tree Initiative Advisory Board, and a former chairman of the World Affairs Council of Orange County. OC Metro recognized him as one of Orange County’s “40 Under 40” in 2010.
Mike holds a doctorate degree in education from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton. He and his wife, Dr. Margaret Moodian, live in Rancho Santa Margarita with their rescue dog Manny and chinchilla Marshall.
Contact Mike through his website (www.moodian.com) and follow him on Twitter (@mikemoodian).