Irvin was born and raised in the Pelican State of Louisiana. He is one of seven siblings. Irvin’s parents instilled in him a strong work ethic, which inspired him to become a lifelong learner. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy. After serving aboard the U.S.S. New Orleans, LPH-11, in San Diego, California, Irvin was reassigned to the beautiful Pacific Northwest at Naval Station Everett, Washington. There, he served alongside the Judge Advocate General as a paralegal (NCO/E5 Aviation Warfare Specialist) until he earned an honorable discharge. After his military service, Irvin chose to pursue higher education and explore the field of politics.

Irvin earned his B.A. from Eastern University (St. Davids, PA) and completed his M.Ed. at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. In his pursuit of higher education, he became the first African American to earn a doctorate (Education) from the University of Portland. Irvin has served the State of Oregon as a Legislative Director and as a State Apprenticeship Jobs Coordinator for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. Irvin thrives in policy development and advocating for Veterans, families, the unsheltered population, adults and youth in custody, and those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. His journey has led him to the Oregon Department of Human Resources as a Policy Advisor, fulfilling the state’s top priorities: education, homelessness, and behavioral/mental health.

As a community leader, Irvin serves as Chair of Salem’s Citizen Budget Committee and Co-Chair of the Marion County Sheriff’s Advisory Board. In his spare time, Irvin loves reading, journaling, and serving as a thought-partner and facilitator who trains executive boards, politicians, first responders, teachers, administrators, and college officials on how to use relational skills centered on empathy, care, and humility. In Irvin’s own words,

“We’re stronger together. We can agree to disagree, but let’s not be disagreeable.”