Matthew Herbst

Matthew Herbst is a professor at the University of California San Diego, where he serves as a Teaching Professor and Director of the Making of the Modern World (writing and world history) program, co-director of Classical Studies (2022-2026), and faculty co-director of Study Abroad (2020-2025). Dr. Herbst specializes in the pedagogical leadership of academic programs and experiential learning opportunities. He was an inaugural professor of UC San Diego’s Global Seminars abroad in 2008 and has led 12 summer programs in Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America.  He offered 8 other academic programs in Turkey, California, and the American Southwest, and led 23 seminars in the deserts and mountains of Southern California. His academic interests include experiential education, environmental humanities, ancient history, world wisdom traditions, sacred traditions of the desert, early Christianity, Byzantium, disability, and writing pedagogy.  Dr. Herbst was a first-generation college student and is dedicated to fostering student success. He collaborated to establish the college-based First Year Experience and Transfer Year Experience courses, designed to facilitate effective transitions to the university, and teaches these each year.  For more on his work see:  https://ucsdherbst.org/bio/