Dr. Matthew Herbst

Biography

Matthew Herbst is a Teaching Professor at the University of California San Diego, where he serves as the Director of the Making Modern World program and co-director of Classical Studies (2022-2026). He is also the faculty co-director of Study Abroad (2020-2025). Since becoming the inaugural professor for UC San Diego’s Global Seminars abroad in 2008, he has led a variety of academic programs across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North America, including 12 summer programs and 8 academic offerings in Turkey, California, and the American Southwest. Herbst has extensive experience leading seminars in diverse environments, including deserts and mountains in Southern California. His academic interests span experiential education, environmental humanities, ancient history, world wisdom traditions, sacred traditions of the desert, early Christianity, Byzantium, disability, and writing pedagogy. As a first-generation college student, he is committed to fostering student success, having collaborated to establish the college-based Year Experience and Transfer Year Experience courses designed to facilitate effective transitions to university. He teaches these courses every year.

Research Interests