Rooted in Vacaville

Michael with his father, who immigrated from Mexico and instilled in him a strong work ethic.

I was born and raised in Markham Heights, the same Vacaville neighborhood where I still live today. My mother, who had experienced homelessness as a child, and my father, an immigrant from Mexico, instilled in me the need for a good education and a strong work ethic. My parents both grew up poor and worked at American Home Foods, a cannery, to break the cycle of poverty, not for themselves, but for their children.

My father passed away when I was 12. Soon after, the cannery closed, causing my mother to lose her job while fighting breast cancer. Like so many other kids from Vacaville in the ’90s, the deck was stacked against me, but at 21, I started my career in the health and sciences field as a medical assistant. I worked at Woodland Healthcare while attending night school at Solano Community College.

Education Opened the Door

Michael’s elder son, Jovanni, joined him when he graduated from college.

I transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara and worked at the local emergency room while earning my bachelor’s degree in Cell and Developmental Biology in 2010. I was the first in my family to graduate college, and I smashed the mold for what a kid from Markham Heights was expected to do.

After earning my master’s degree in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics from California State University Channel Islands in 2013 and publishing my research on neural stem cell therapeutic applications while working at City of Hope, I returned home to Vacaville. I worked full-time at Genentech and taught Biotechnology and Biological Sciences as a professor at Solano Community College. After several years at Genentech, I transitioned to teaching full-time and have ensured more youth have hands-on learning opportunities to pursue STEM careers.

A Life of Service

Michael’s family joined him as he earned his doctorate from the University of Southern California.

Since returning to Solano County, I’ve become a reputable community leader. I volunteered to design and implement STEM enrichment and career opportunities, youth programs and organizations, and support many community service projects. I was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by Solano Community College, I won my first election in 2018 and served on the Vacaville Unified School District Board of Trustees. I was elected to the Vacaville City Council in 2020, where I continue to proudly serve the City of Vacaville.

I still live in Markham Heights with my wife, Zulema, and our sons, Jovanni and Benjamin. If you find me in a free moment, I’ll probably be out leading a Boy Scouts activity.