Anthony Magdaleno

Biography

I’m a Bay Area native with a passport full of stamps and a passion for connecting with people across cultures. After high school, I set out to explore Southeast Asia and South America, balancing my travels with work on international cruise ships. Along the way, I taught English in Thailand and joined hands-on projects through WWOOF, where I got my hands dirty and my heart full.

Eventually, I landed in Southern California and earned my B.A. in International Security and Conflict Resolution at San Diego State University. There, I discovered my love for teaching while working as a Teaching Assistant—and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I’ve led diverse teams of young leaders at international conferences and studied across the globe—Oxford, Portugal, Barcelona, Austria—as a Gilman International Scholar. These experiences showed me the transformative power of education, and I strive to bring that spark into every learning environment.

What drives me is helping students think critically, creatively, and independently. I believe in collaboration over lecture, and I teach in a way that encourages students to ask questions, challenge ideas, and take ownership of their learning. To me, education isn’t about memorizing facts—it’s about empowering students to shape their world.