Matthew Wood

Ed-GRS Fellow

Matthew Wood is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) program, specializing in Higher Education. Although born in raised in Pontiac, MI, Matt earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, while minoring in education, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). His research interests in education, particularly in the success of minoritized student populations, stems from his experience as a First-Generation student, Carolina Covenant and Ronald E. McNair Scholar. Alongside interests in student success, Matt is also passionate about student well-being and mental health. While attending UNC, he had the esteemed honor of leading the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Support Group, where he was able to gain understanding of the difficulties anxiety disorders can play on student success and achievement. He is excited to use these experiences in constructing his research while at UW.

Following graduation, Matt remained in the Carolinas where he gained further experience in education, serving as a substitute teacher. Outside of education, Matt loves to explore and engage with his community, workout with friends, attend sporting events and concerts, and hone in on the skills he gained serving as a mixologist for the last few years.