About
Hi! I’m Dr. Matt
I’m an author, blogger, and guide for college students. I’m here to share with you everything I wish I’d known before going to college (but that nobody ever told me!). I hope you come to find this site as a valuable resource that assists you along your path – using knowledge gleaned from my experiences as a guide for things to do (or not do!) in your own collegate journey.
Matt Friesen, PhD, is a student, teacher, researcher, author, speaker, and equity advocate. Matt’s adventurous career has given him a behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to succeed in college. After his own college graduation, he attended seminary and spent a year in Southeast Chicago interning as a community organizer. Later he pastored two congregations where he helped people of all ages figure out the next steps in their lives.
Matt went back to school later in life and completed a PhD in Sociology from the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) and taught for 5-years at a small private university. In addition to walking students through social-psychology, anthropology, and social change courses, he spent hundreds of hours guiding students along their own university paths.
Matt also worked in the Career Development Center of a small public university where he helped lead, advise, and organize cross-cultural experiences. He’s traveled with extended study groups to Nagasaki, Japan, Israel/West Bank, Agua Prieta and Matamoros, Mexico and just about every state in the US.
Today, Matt works as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion research analyst helping the Oregon Department of Human Services better serve all the communities we work with. Together these experiences give Matt a broad perspective on the power of college to shape personal growth, academic journeys, and career planning with an eye on the importance of community and diversity.
In his spare time he kayaks with the family and dog, hikes Oregon’s Cascade range, and of course, reads a lot.
What’s in this website
Throughout these pages you’ll find Dr. Matt’s Gutsy Guide to Reading in College and the gutsycollege.com website contains more than just great advice about reading. They help students set up their routines to make the most of their classes, provide free downloadable resources, reveal the best way to tackle different types of readings, and outline the best way to take notes.
Matt’s Mission
Matt loves to share with students, parents, and university faculty and staff. Reach out to learn about Matt’s availability for speaking invitations, and quantity orders of Dr. Matt’s Gusty Guide to Reading in College.
Workshops
Looking for an introduction to excellent college reading for your students? Local in-person (Western Oregon) or online workshops are available for small or large groups. Free workshops are also offered with book purchases of 25 or more. Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch to learn more about what would be most helpful.