Biography

Although he was born and raised in Southern California, Doug Deaver has traveled extensively and enjoyed a life of considerable adventure. “Dr. D” graduated from Lakewood High School and earned an Associate’s degree from Long Beach City College. It was at LBCC that he became thoroughly convinced of the importance of community colleges. “The community college not only provided me with rich intellectual experiences, but helped to give me a context in which I could determine my life’s plan. Most important of all, it introduced me to philosophy. I am truly one of those fortunate few that knew at 17 what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

Doug then spent the next few years at CSULB, earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. This was the most formative period of his intellectual life in which he took every philosophy class he could, and feasted on a wealth of ideas. This time also provided Doug with a model for his own notion of utopia – an academic institution in which there were a broad range of positions and perspectives and the tolerance to allow the student to form his own philosophical ideas.

Doug then followed the reputation of USC as the only “classically oriented” doctoral program west of the University of Chicago and spent six years there. This was a period that was challenging on the personal, professional, and intellectual levels. Often working more than one job, the demands of the program proved grueling. Doug received his PhD at 28 years of age.

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