Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, PM is an alumnus of UC Berkeley, where he studied Philosophy. Prior to starting his graduate studies, his research interests were centered on later Wittgenstein and the essentially social nature of language.

With longstanding interests in the history of radical political thought in the 20th century, particularly in the interwoven traditions of socialism and Black radicalism, his current research focuses on how W.E.B. Du Bois conceptualized “the colonial system”, consisting in the intertwined forces of capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism on a world scale, led by the Western imperialist powers, from the mid-1940s to the early 1960s.

Outside of doing political philosophy, PM enjoys spending time in nature, drinking coffee, and eating at local restaurants. He also loves spending time with his cat, Lyla, who is named after “Your Night is of Lilac” by Mahmoud Darwish.