Staff Spotlight: Matthew Brandel

As the Graduate College grows and expands its efforts to enrich the experiences of graduate students — we are excited to introduce our team members! Our fantastic staff are an integral component of our mission. From completing daily operations to investing in long-term projects and relationships — the ASU community would not be the same without them. 

In this feature, we invite you to get to know Matthew Brandel, Coordinator Senior for the Professional Development and Engagement team! He fills us in on the mentorship initiatives he’s working on this year and shares his passion for competitive kickball!

Name: Matthew Brandel

Title: Graduate Support Coordinator

Dept: Graduate Program Services

Hello! My name is Matthew Brandel. I was born in Chicago, Illinois, but have lived in Arizona my whole life. I am a first-generation college student who completed my bachelor’s degree in psychological sciences and my master’s degree in applied sociology from Northern Arizona University. I am a doctoral candidate in the School of Education at Baylor University, where I am studying how perceived emotional support correlates with academic success among college students.

Professionally, I have a lot of experience in teaching and student engagement within higher education at various institutions across the state. I have been with ASU for nearly two years and have been Coordinator Senior in the Professional Development and Engagement team at the Graduate College since August 2023. I’m primarily focused on mentoring initiatives such as “Mentoring Matters” and the “Ask a Mentor” series, where a panel of faculty and staff answers burning questions that graduate students may have.

A major project I am working on is rolling out the new and improved Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) Associate Course for graduate students, where they can learn how to implement and advance evidence-based teaching practices for diverse learners. The CIRTL Associate Course will be available this Spring, so watch for further communication!

You can find me outside work at concerts and sporting events throughout the year. I also enjoy playing golf, participating in competitive kickball around the U.S. and cooking for friends and family!