Dr. Michael Lin's Bio

Dr. Lin is the Chief Business Official of the San Marino Unified School District and oversees District finances, budget, accounting, payroll, facilities, maintenance and operations, food services, purchasing, safety and wellness, and property and liability. Dr. Lin works closely with Human Resources in labor negotiations and organizational risk management, and supports Educational Services in program funding and accountability reporting. Dr. Lin regularly collaborates with the San Marino Schools Foundation, booster clubs, local community groups, and the PTSA/PTAs that generously raise funds for all our high-performing schools. 

Dr. Lin joined San Marino Unified School District in 2015 as the Assistant Principal at Huntington Middle School. He became the Principal at Carver School in 2016. During Dr. Lin's tenure at Carver School, Carver was recognized as a California Distinguished School (2018) and a National Blue Ribbon School (2020). Dr. Lin served as the Principal of K. L. Carver School until 2022, when he became the Chief Business Official of San Marino Unified School District.

Dr. Lin obtained his bachelor’s degree in engineering from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art on a full-tuition merit scholarship and earned his master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Zicklin School of Business in New York City. He earned his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. His dissertation topic was on instructional technology and student achievement.

While working in an investment bank on Wall Street, Dr. Lin discovered his calling to become an educator after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Dr. Lin changed his path and decided to pursue a career in education to make a difference in the world through people. He taught in New York City before moving to California in 2004.

Before working in San Marino, Dr. Lin was employed by the Temple City Unified School District serving in such roles as District Office Curriculum Coordinator and La Rosa Elementary School Principal. He taught math and Advanced Placement Computer Science at Mark Keppel High School in the Alhambra Unified School District before becoming an administrator in 2008. 

In his spare time, Dr. Lin enjoys hiking and wilderness backpacking. He enjoys visiting state and national parks with his family. He also served as a publicly elected member of the Temple City Unified School District Governing School Board from 2018-2022 and was a member of the California School Boards Association and the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association.

Dr. Lin is MiG certified by the California School Boards Association and is professionally certified as a Chief Business Official by the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). He also holds an Administrative Services Credential and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in the State of California.