Matthew Childs serves as visiting assistant professor of German. He earned his Ph.D. in German from the University of Washington in 2024.

Matthew has been teaching German language and culture since 2013, offering experienced instruction at all levels of the curriculum. He focuses on bridging the gap between the classroom and the world, tying language and culture learning to both intellectual interest and real-world opportunities for career development and educational advancement. As a first-generation academic, he spends time helping students to navigate the complex world of higher education.   

Matthew's primary research examines the transhistorical development of the catastrophe concept at the intersection of literature and philosophy by utilizing theoretical frameworks from the environmental humanities, intellectual history, and literary and cultural studies. His other areas of research are the energy humanities, the German history of race-thinking, imperialism, and colonialism, and applications of artificial intelligence in language pedagogy.