Raised in a diplomatic family (similar to a military family), Phil traveled extensively as a child and experienced many cultures, perspectives, and languages. By the time he was nine, he had lived on three continents and in several countries. His itinerate upbringing bestowed in him a deep appreciation of diversity, equity, and inclusion...and a gluttonous love of all foods!

He has taught in higher education for 19 years, 15 of them in the California Community Colleges system, both as part-time and full-time faculty. He taught English full-time at West Valley College, and later, at Cerritos College. His labor, organizing, and political involvement began as an elected officer of the Cerritos College Faculty Federation, and he has since utilized those positions to build and broaden his skill set and experience.

Those initial experiences led him to various roles within the Labor movement: Rep/Organizer, Community and Field Coordinator, Labor Relations Representative, Political and Communications Director, and most recently, as executive director of AFT 6157. 

Beyond higher education, Phil has served as a school board member for two K-12 school districts, San Gabriel USD and Alameda USD.

In September of 2024, Phil took on a new challenge, becoming the Executive Director of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC), where he continues to advocate for educators and students statewide. 

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