Meet Our Scholars

Matthew was born into a Mormon family and grew up in a predominantly LDS town in Utah. Facing conflict between Mormon religious ideology and his sexual orientation, Matt left the state to attend college at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, working to put himself through school. During and after college, he worked for a non-profit foundation that conducts HIV/AIDS research and development and medical research for other serious conditions. As a regular volunteer for a HIV/AIDS meal delivery service, Matt can attest to the impact of medical research. Working as a volunteer rowing coach for new college students, he was able to support the development of confidence and self-esteem among several gay athletes each year. After working fulltime to personally finance his undergraduate education, Matt became a Point Scholar from 2005 - 2007 and earned his MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Matt was an exemplary scholar, who went on to become one of the first alumni to join Point's Board of Regents in July of 2007. At the conclusion of his term as a Board Regent, Matt continued to support Point as a Cornerstone Society member and he was always happy to assist with fundraising and outreach in the Atlanta area. Matt was a gracious human being and friend. He will be missed dearly by all of us at Point. At the time of his death, he was employed with Eli Lilly & Company and he is survived by his partner Ivan Pulinkala, Ed.D.