ABOUT

MATTHEW KING

Marshall Memorial Fellow – German Marshall Fund

Curriculum Vitae

Hello, I am Matthew King, a bold writer, creative advisor, fearless explorer, and pioneering leader. This is the place to explore my creative work in various fields.

As the CEO of the COMMON Foundation, I lead and mentor social entrepreneurs, artists, creatives, and conservationists who dare to make a positive social and environmental impact.

I am a student of the world. I have been to every continent except Antarctica, completed learning expeditions to over 45 countries, lived in five, and studied in four—completing my Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge. As a result, I possess a deep understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives.

My journey has taken me to incredible heights and depths. I’ve dived the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and trekked through the Rockies, Andes, Great Dividing Range, Cascades, and more. Yet, my most transformative journey has been from head to heart.

My adventures aren’t limited to geographical expeditions. I’ve embarked on a profound inner odyssey, seeking wisdom and enlightenment through philosophy, spirituality, and literature. And guess what? The universe rewarded me with a unique revelation when I met my best teacher of any – cancer. Defying all odds, with less than a 15 percent chance of survival, I emerged full of life and discovered my true purpose: to create, inspire, and empower.

Ergo, I have been focusing my energy of late on creative pursuits – from serving the COMMON Foundation to creating social enterprises to producing art to writing innovative strategies to articles for mainstream outlets. Oh, yeah. I’m writing a futuristic dystopian novel that will transport you to realms you never imagined!

My vision is to live a life brimming with balance and creativity. I thrive on teaching, advising, mentoring, and learning from the unstoppable forces of youth, peers, and professionals driving mind-blowing change. I strive to increase awareness of our unique place in the cosmos, our connection to all life on Earth, our dependence on nature, and the imperative to protect it for its own sake and future generations.

I help people and organizations prepare for the future by blending scientific knowledge with social wisdom. I’ve lent my expertise to governments, universities, non-profits, think tanks, and the private sector, shaking up the status quo and igniting sparks of innovation across the globe. My insights have graced the pages of renowned publications like the BBC, Journal of Biological Conservation, Marine Policy Journal, Mongabay, Earth Island Journal, World Watch Institute, Environmental Law Institute, UN Environment Program, UN Peacebuilding Commission, NOAA Research, Center for Strategic Leadership – United States Army War College, One Earth Future Foundation, U.S. Department of State, and more.

As a Marshall Memorial Fellow with the German Marshall Fund, a former US Presidential Management Fellow (Clinton and Bush Administrations), a U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award Recipient, a Founding Member of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Kinship Conservation Fellow, Distinguished Alumnus Lecturer in Politics and Law, University of Tulsa, and a Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, I bring an unparalleled zest for life and pioneering expertise to every endeavor.

I invite you to connect and embark on a transformative journey.

Education:

2008 Ph.D. Geographies of Knowledge | Political Ecology of Development | Geography, Faculty of Earth Science & Geography, University of Cambridge

1999 M.Phil International Peace & Conflict Studies Program, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland

1998 B.A. Political Science | Certificate in Legal Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Tulsa

1997 Study Abroad (1yr) Public International Law, Political Theory, and European Union Studies; Old College School of Law and Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh

Select Professional Fellowships, Honors, Distinctions, and Affiliations:

Marshall Memorial Fellow – German Marshall Fund; United States Presidential Management Fellow (Clinton and Bush Administrations); U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award Recipient for “unusual creative ability affecting major programs and scientific accomplishments.” Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society; Postgraduate Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers; Kinship Conservation Fellow; Founding Member of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association, Distinguished Alumnus Lectureship in Politics and Law, University of Tulsa, Department of Political Science; Founding Member of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association; Roster Member, US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, Morris K. Udall Foundation; Member Association of American Geographers; AAG International Research and Scholarly Exchange Committee 2006 – 2007; College Geography and Education Committee, Association of American Geographers July 2007 –2009; Member American Anthropological Association; Member of the Society for Latin American Studies; Member Pembroke College, University of Cambridge.