Dr. Michael W. Kirst is Professor Emeritus of Education and Business Administration at Stanford University and the longest-serving President of the California State Board of Education, serving as a member from 1975-1982 (as well as President from 1977 to 1981 and again from 2011-2019). Dr. Kirst received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College, his M.P.A. in government and economics from Harvard University, and his Ph.D. in political economy and government from Harvard. Dr. Kirst is a co-founder of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), an education policy think tank, and currently serves on its advisory board.