He previously taught Sociology, Latino Studies, and Ethnic Studies at Humboldt State University, Cornell University, University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne, California State University-San Marcos, University of California San Diego, Southwestern College, Colorado State University and University of Wisconsin Rock County. He was trained as a journalist at the University of Colorado Boulder and went on to study Sociology at Colorado State University (M.A.) and University of Wisconsin-Madison (Ph.D.).