ReNDES @ AUT

Biography

Mat has been interested in the international community and global health from a very young age. He has lived, worked and volunteered in over a dozen countries pursuing community-based initiatives in education, youth mentorship and resilience building of homeless people. Mat holds a BA in Outdoor Education and is currently pursuing his Masters in Emergency Management at AUT. He spent seven years in the US Army as a Combat Lifesaver and Non Commissioned Officer, fulfilling two tours of Iraq and learning first hand the detrimental effects of misguided military aggression. Following his time in the Army he was accepted into the U.S. Peace Corps and served in Senegal working on community health development. He is a Red Cross Disaster Services volunteer and has deployed in response to several hurricanes and wildfires throughout the United States. Following completion of his Masters, Mat will be pursuing work with international aid and disaster response organizations.