Matthew Powell
Faculty - History, Pleasant Hill Campus
Dr. Matthew Powell has taught for over 20 years in high school and higher education. Currently, he is Associate Professor of History at Diablo Valley College (DVC), where he teaches Atlantic History--African American and North American. He has also taught Latin American History.
Matthew holds bachelors degrees in Religious Studies and Social Science and a secondary teaching credential from California State University, Chico. His Masters is in History from the University of New Mexico. He earned his doctorate at the University of California, Davis where he pursued research on the rise and fall of learning communities. Also, Matthew studied West African history and French language at the Universite de Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, West Africa, and Cuban history and Spanish at the Universidad de la Habana in Habana, Cuba. He maintains speaking and reading proficiency in Spanish. He has traveled extensively and conducted research and formal studies in France, Guatemala, Venezuela and Colombia.
For over ten years, Matthew has served on either the Statewide Board or Executive Committee of the Umoja Community, a learning community committed to the academic success, personal growth and self-actualization of African American and other students. Matthew has also served as an educational consultant for non-profits.
Matthew’s work with students and colleagues is informed by his yoga and martial arts practice. He has had a consistent yoga practice for over twenty years and has studied martial arts for over fifteen years. His martial foundation is in Jeet Kune Do, Boxing and Escrima. He has earned black belts in Aikido, in Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu (sword), and in Jojutsu (staff). He is a 5th degree black belt (Shihan) and Certified Instructor in Seibukan Jujutsu.