Michael Leonard Cox

Michael Leonard Cox is a Lecturer in the American Indian Studies Department at San Diego State University (SDSU) and a Professor of History in the Social Sciences Department at San Diego Mesa College. He has taught since 2015 and currently serves as Coordinator of the Constance M. Carroll Humanities Institute at Mesa College, faculty advisor for the Native American student club, and on committees focused on curriculum, diversity, and equity.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in History, Ohio University
• Master of Arts in History, University of Oklahoma
• Doctoral degree in Native American History (19th century), University of California, Riverside
• Graduate Certificate in Native American Studies, Montana State University

Research interests include cultural change and continuity in Indigenous communities, with a focus on religion, identity, and adaptation. His work examines settler colonialism, Indian Removal policies, and disability history in Native communities. He has authored book chapters, an education policy article, book reviews, and presented at academic conferences for over two decades.

Professional experience includes grant writing/evaluation for K-16 schools and a U.S. Department of Education-funded research project on disability accommodations in schools. He previously taught at Cameron University and multiple institutions in Ohio and California.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Constance M. Carroll Humanities Institute and advises the Native American student club at Mesa College.