Christine Schirmer

Bio

Christine Schirmer, Ed.D., is the Director of the Stanford Medicine Teaching and Mentoring Academy. In this role she collaborates with the Academy's faculty co-directors to oversee all aspects of the Academy's programming, which promotes excellence in teaching and mentoring through grant programs, teaching and mentoring skills training, peer coaching and mentoring programs, and appointments and promotions support.

Prior to this role, Christine served in the School of Medicine first as the Pre-clerkship Curriculum Manager in the Office of Medical Education and then as the Curriculum Administrator in the Registrar's Office. Before arriving at the School of Medicine, Christine held a variety of roles in education. Her classroom experience includes teaching as a lecturer at both SFSU and the College of San Mateo, as well as teaching in SFSU's Educational Opportunity Program's Summer Bridge. Her administrative experience includes serving as the Associate Director of California Campus Compact, a statewide membership organization that builds the collective commitment and capacity of colleges, universities and communities to advance civic and community engagement for a healthy, just and democratic society. Additionally, she directed Stanford Upward Bound, a federally-funded college access program for low-income high school students who will be the first in their families to attend college. In this role, Christine also taught Education 102: Examining Social Structures, Power and Educational Access to Stanford undergraduates selected as Youth and Education Fellows. Her passion for teaching and educational equity is the common thread that runs through her professional experience.

Christine earned her B.A. in English with minors in Women's Studies and French at U.C. Davis, her M.A. in English Literature with an emphasis on teaching composition at San Francisco State University, and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at San Francisco State University. Her doctoral dissertation studied anti-racist teaching at a public high school. Outside of work, Christine has explored her love of dance as a lifelong student of ballet, a former member of the Oakland-based SambaFunk dance group, and a current member of San Francisco-based Latin Dance Grooves. Additionally for several years she was part of the teaching team for the Untraining, a facilitator training focused on ending collusion in racism and all forms of oppression.

Current Role at Stanford

Director, Teaching and Mentoring Academy

Education & Certifications

• Certificate, Stanford Manager Academy, Management, Team development, and Leadership
• Ed.D., San Francisco State University, Educational Leadership
• RYT-200, YogaX, Certified Yoga Teacher with healthcare emphasis
• LEAD Certificate, AAMC Leadership Education and Development Certificate Program, Leadership in Medical Education
• M.A., San Francisco State University, English, with minor emphasis in Composition Pedagogy
• B.A., University of California, Davis, English (with High Honors), minors in Women's Studies and French

Service, Volunteer and Community Work

• Volunteer, At the Crossroads (9/1/2004 - January 1, 2015)

  The mission of At The Crossroads (ATC) is to reach out to homeless youth and young adults at their point of need, and work with them to build healthy and fulfilling lives. ATC's innovative model focuses on young people who do not access traditional services and are disconnected from any type of consistent support.Their goal is to help our clients build outstanding lives, not just lives of subsistence. Volunteer projects include outreach supply prep, interview transcribing, addressing envelopes, volunteering at events, and fund raising

  Location

  San Francisco, CA

• Teaching Assistant, The Untraining (1/1/2008 - July 1, 2017)

  The UNtraining is a provocative and compassionate approach to help people discover how to work together in extraordinary ways to end our collusion with racism and all forms of oppression. The UNtraining provides insights and tools for all levels of experience and activism to white people and people of color. Teaching Assistants work with lead teachers to facilitate group sessions during 6-month phases.

  Location

  Oakland, CA

• Adult ESL Teacher and Literacy Tutor, Project Read, San Mateo Library (11/2/2024 - Present)

  Project Read, the adult literacy program of the San Mateo Public Library, has provided free, confidential, literacy tutoring to adults since 1985. Volunteer tutors work with adults who want to improve their basic reading and writing skills, enabling them to achieve personal learning goals, like reading a story to a child, voting for the first time, or completing a job application form. The program raises literacy levels—and the quality of life—in the City of San Mateo.

  Location

  San Mateo CA