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 enough to run seven marathons (including New York and Chicago), and I have completed 53 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. 

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.

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.

SCIP’s Instagram

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