Matthew Goldman became a composition lecturer at UCI in winter 2022. He earned his BA in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University and his MA in English and MFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University. At Chapman, he teaches composition courses on protest movements and campus activism. At UCI, he teaches about conspiracy theories and mass incarceration. He also teaches creative writing at Santa Ana Jail.

Students have described Matthew as “quite the gem”, “funny”, “slay”, and “bald.” He believes that anything you do in the classroom should have a purpose outside of the classroom, which forms the foundation of his teaching philosophy. He also believes that people learn more effectively when they are having fun, which makes up I guess the first floor of his teaching philosophy? He’s still trying to figure out what the roof is made of, and if there is a top floor.

When he isn’t teaching, you can mostly find him pretending to know what he’s doing at the gym or being lazy at home. But once a month you can find him hosting Write to Read, a reading series he founded in 2019 based out of Orange. If you are a creative writer, you should probably get in touch with him about being a reader!

Students have described Matthew as “quite the gem”, “funny”, “slay”, and “bald.” He believes that anything you do in the classroom should have a purpose outside of the classroom, which forms the foundation of his teaching philosophy. He also believes that people learn more effectively when they are having fun, which makes up I guess the first floor of his teaching philosophy? He’s still trying to figure out what the roof is made of, and if there is a top floor.

When he isn’t teaching, you can mostly find him pretending to know what he’s doing at the gym or being lazy at home. But once a month you can find him hosting Write to Read, a reading series he founded in 2019 based out of Orange. If you are a creative writer, you should probably get in touch with him about being a reader!

Courses Typically Taught:

  • Writing 50
  • Writing 60

Themes Typically Taught:

  • Conspiracy Theories (WR 50), Mass Incarceration in America (WR 60)

Textbooks Needed:

  • Conspiracy Theories: A Critical Introduction by Jovan Byford (WR 50); American Prison by Shane Bauer and Are Prisons Obsolete by Angela Davis (WR 60). Other readings / video / media is included in both courses but will be provided by the instructor and is subject to change from session to session.

Email: mggoldm1@uci.edu