my.CSMD
Meet Our Faculty: Michael Coffey
Meet Michael Coffey
Assistant Professor, History and Political Science
Faculty member since 2022
mscoffey@csmd.edu
Courses Taught
I teach a variety of history and most political science courses at the college.
About
I previously spent several decades working in defense-, security-, and intelligence-related fields. I also used to live in Central Asia. While overseas, I rescued my dog, Tsing Tao, who's living her best life now in Washington, D.C.
My educational path started many years ago at a community college in nearby northern Virginia, so I am delighted to return to the CC environment after so many years.
Educational Background
- Master of International Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University
- Master of Arts in European and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
- Bachelor of Arts in History and International Relations, Hawaii Pacific University
Q&A
My goal with teaching is to challenge students to direct their own learning by the end of my course. If I am simply "depositing" information and students are "banking" that, then I have not succeeded. Ideally, our weeks together will enable students to critically question the historical rootedness of the world today and to reject assumptions that surround them in culture and in both traditional and social media.
The interests of students are at the forefront of all important decisions at CSM. Too many higher-education institutions today see themselves as finance or real estate entities, but in my few years here I have come to see how student-centered our college really is.
I think I have some unique insight into public service, defense, and government careers in the wider region and I try to bring elements of that into all of my courses.
I regularly attend the Central Eurasian Studies Society annual conference. Other scholarship of mine includes editing with the Journal of Slavic Military Studies.
Last updated: 9/5/23