About Me

A man standing on a lawn in front of a large white building with tall columns and rectangular windows.

Hi folks—I am Matthew from Spartanburg, SC. I am passionate about helping students succeed while maximizing their college experience. I have always aimed to remove the barriers that stand in their way. I have worked with hundreds of students who have reported various forms of sexual violence, and I have seen how disruptive it can be in someone's life, especially as a college student. I want us to change the narrative, recognize the persistence of these issues, consider the harm caused by rape myths, and explore ways we can work together to prevent sexual violence. We can change the game together. Oh, and we should also talk about the importance of believing victims and survivors. I want you to emphatically care about these issues!

So, more about me:

I love books, and I have more than I could ever read. And yes, I will continue to buy new ones. I mainly read nonfiction, and some of my favorite authors include Jim Collins, Brené Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Simon Sinek, Ryan Holiday, and Brad Stulberg. Reading has absolute power, and education is one of the most valuable investments we can make in ourselves.

I love running and signing up for races! I have been fortunate to run ten marathons (including New York and Chicago) and complete 56 half marathons. My ultimate goal is to run all the world's major marathons and earn the six-star medal. When I eventually earn that coveted medal, I might wear it everywhere I go. That's a true statement.

I care about helping others. I recall learning about servant leadership in college, and I found it to be one of the most fascinating concepts. The idea of the servant as the leader — leading by serving — was simple yet brilliant. When I had the chance to choose a theoretical framework for my doctoral dissertation, it was an easy choice. I selected Robert Greenleaf, the founder of the modern servant leadership movement.

I love spending time with my family. Being a dad feels like my greatest purpose in life. I enjoy traveling. I am a photographer (I learned from my dad). Music means everything to me, especially the Dave Matthews Band. Over the past year, I have become a fan of podcasts. "Meet Joe Black" is my favorite movie. I’ve watched every episode of Seinfeld. I’m not sure which I prefer more: the mountains or the beach. Most days, I would choose the mountains, but there’s nothing like hearing the ocean's waves.

Okay, that gives you more insight into me. 

Logo for the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses featuring a blue ribbon intertwined with a map of South Carolina and the text.

I am blessed to serve as the executive director of the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence (SCIP). First envisioned by Lander University President Richard Cosentino, the Institute was created with legislative support and funding to drive statewide change on this critical issue.

At SCIP, our mission is to lower the incidence of sexual violence and provide best practice protocols and services for all higher education institutions supporting survivors of sexual violence.

We offer prevention grants, faculty-research grants, professional development opportunities related to Title IX, Greek student leadership institutes, and campus safety conferences in South Carolina. Our goal is to provide higher education institutions with the knowledge, support, and funding necessary to reduce sexual violence and enhance campus safety for all.

Lander University charters SCIP.

Dr. Matthew Hammett is a higher education administrator passionate about student development, leadership, and success. His career spans more than 20 years and encompasses a range of functional areas. Matthew is an expert in Title IX, particularly in harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct. He serves as the inaugural executive director of the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses (SCIP), established through Lander University. Before SCIP, Matthew served as the director of civil rights, Title IX, and student risk assessment at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. Additionally, he has served as assistant dean of students and dean of the senior class, and in various roles in residence life, education, and career services.

He has extensive experience across many areas of student life, including crisis management, conflict resolution, multicultural and social justice education, first-year orientation, event coordination, leadership development, assessment, and student conduct.

Matthew holds a B.A. in mass communication and theatre from Lander University and an M.Ed. in counselor education from Clemson University. In 2024, he defended his dissertation titled “Self-Care and Institutional Support for the Title IX Administrator Through the Framework of Servant Leadership: Navigating Burnout During These Precarious Times in Higher Education." His Ed.D. in professional leadership is from Converse University.

Personally, Matthew is an avid reader, marathon runner, husband, and proud parent of two sons and a Goldendoodle.

LinkedIn Bio

Two men seated and talking in a TV studio with a large background image of a cityscape and a NBC logo and text on the floor.

SCIP’s Instagram

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