Michael Wald is the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law at Stanford University, where has taught courses dealing with legal and public policy regarding children and families since 1967. He also holds an appointment in the School of Education. He graduated from Yale Law School and also holds a Masters Degree in Political Science from Yale. His current research focuses on older youth disconnected from school and the workforce, especially youth in the juvenile justice and foster care systems.
Professor Wald has held a number of positions outside the University connected to social services for children and families. He served as Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Human Services in 1996-7. From 1993-95, he was Deputy General Counsel of the federal Department of Health and Human Services. In 2001-2003, he served as Senior Advisor to the President at the Hewlett Foundation.
Professor Wald has drafted major child welfare legislation in California and nationally. He currently is chairing the Mayor’s Task Force on Transitional Youth in San Francisco and is a member of the Board of Directors of Chapin Hall, University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration and of Legal Services for Children in San Francisco. His other experiences include representing children in abuse proceedings, serving as a judge pro tem in juvenile courts throughout California, and serving as Chair of California's State Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. He also was a district attorney in Ventura County and a public defender in the District of Columbia.