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Steve Isachsen grew up in Northern California’s Silicon Valley, where he was immersed in the world of technology from an early age. With his childhood home only miles from industry giants like Apple and IBM, Steve experienced firsthand the evolution of personal computing. In the late 1970s, his elementary school was among the first in the country to integrate the Apple II into the curriculum, sparking a lifelong passion for technology. Evenings were spent tinkering with early home video games by Atari and what would become the best-selling personal computer of all time, the Commodore 64.

With a deep interest in the ethical, social, and governmental issues surrounding technology, Steve attended West Valley College, setting his sights on transferring to a four-year university. His love of the outdoors and desire to continue exploring these fields led him to the University of California, San Diego, in 1991, where he majored in Political Science. Balancing academics with surfing at Black’s Beach and golfing at Torrey Pines, Steve graduated with honors and embarked on an industry career blending technology and business with positions at Franklin Templeton Investments, Foresters, and Financial Profiles.

A conversation with a former professor led him to try substitute teaching in the K-12 system, an experience that inspired him to pursue teaching at the college level. He entered graduate school at San Francisco State University in 1996, aiming to combine his interests in technology, politics, and education. Steve taught for four years at the community college and California State University levels, as well as worked in an Instructional Technology Services role as an analyst, instructional designer, and trainer at San Diego State University, before being hired in the fall of 2001 as a full-time faculty member in the Computer and Information Science Department at MiraCosta College.

Now a tenured faculty member with 24 years at MiraCosta, Steve has played a central role in the college’s growth, leading many governance committees and developing various innovative technology-based instructional methods while managing the CSIT Department’s 14 different AS Degree and Certificate Pathways. Steve has written the curriculum for several technology courses that were the first in the State of California to be approved to meet CSU and UC General Education requirements, and his emphasis on industry-relevant skills has equipped hundreds of students over the years for success in the workforce.

Central to Steve’s human-centered teaching philosophy is the belief that by cultivating intention and connection, students not only enhance their learning but also grow into more thoughtful and responsible members of society, both as individuals and as workers. This approach empowers students to be ethical and intentional innovators. Students are seen not as a resource to be trained for a specific role but rather as thoughtful, responsible citizens capable of using technology to meet workforce needs in the context of broader societal good.

Santa Cruz
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