Matthew was born in Texas and raised in Virginia. Upon graduating high school in 2003, he joined the United States Marine Corps, serving as an Intelligence Specialist for 13 years until 2016. Matthew’s post-service priorities include gaining education and advocating for veterans’ mental health. He attended Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, focusing on commercial photography, and finished his undergraduate degree in Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023. His hobbies include tinkering with his 1990 Suzuki Sidekick, social and environmental justice, and exploring the history of Colorado’s mining towns.