Mathew received his master's degree in student development from Appalachian State University and his bachelor's in English and black studies from SUNY New Paltz. As a first generation college student, Mathew has worked in residence life, orientation and student leadership at a number of institutions and has been involved in a number of initiatives related to the first year experience at Salem State University. He has worked closely with NACURH, a national student leadership organization, was named outstanding mentor by ACPA, the American College Personnel Association, and was a finalist for the First Year Advocate Award through the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience. Mathew is currently in his second year of a doctoral program at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in higher education administration.
1. I grew up in a log cabin in upstate New York 2. I have an aversion to cotton balls - can't touch them, can't think about touching them. Too much time touching or thinking makes me nauseous 3. In high school I starred in "Godspell" and "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" 4. I'm terrified of performing, speaking, doing anything in public 5. I can't go to sleep at night unless the closet door is firmly shut - I will literally lie awake in bed in the dark knowing that it's not shut until I have to get up 6. I have a dreamcatcher hanging in my bedroom to keep nightmares away - and it works. Haven't had them since I put it up 7. My favorite food are pierogies - Polish dumplings. I still make them homemade with my grandmother's recipe from Poland 8. I'm half Polish and half Irish 9. I had seven majors as an undergrad at SUNY New Paltz - I ended up with English and Black Studies, and still graduated in 4 years 10. I went to graduate school in North Carolina at Appalachian State University and ran an all-male athlete residence hall of 320 guys 11. I know very little about sports unless it's the Olympics - then I know lots 12. I have an addiction to funny socks 13. I've been vegetarian since 1994 14. I became vegetarian based on a dare from some friends at the lunch table - they said I couldn't do it for a month - I think I won 15. I love listening to happy fun pop music - it makes me smile 16. I get caught a lot in my car singing and dancing to Disney stars 17. I am obsessed/terrified/freaked out by sharks - I can't swim in the ocean because I'm convinced my fate is to end up in a shark's stomach 18. A couple years ago I checked off a bucket list item by swimming with dolphins - it was amazing! Dolphins are different from sharks - they are cute 19. I love fun facts - about anything 20. My bedroom clock is 2 hours fast, the dining area is 1 hour fast, the bathroom is 30 minutes fast, and the kitchen is 15 minutes fast - I hate being late 21. I'm a sci-fi/fantasy novel buff and own thousands of comic books dating back to the 70s 22. I'm straight-edge - don't drink alcohol, smoke, or do drugs of any kind - never have! 23. I failed out of college my first semester - they let me back in after I appealed and I had above a 3.0 GPA every semester after that 24. I love working with first year students 25. I'm currently working on my Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston - my dissertation topic relates to undocumented students