Matthew M Mars

Matthew M. Mars is a Professor and Interim Head at the University of Arizona, specializing in interdisciplinary research on community innovation and market narratives. He holds a PhD from the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Arizona, an MEd in Counseling and Human Relations from Northern Arizona University, and a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Utica College of Syracuse University.

His research focuses on visual narratives in local consumption spaces (e.g., coffee shops, breweries), entrepreneurial community development, and higher education. He has been recognized with teaching awards including the Dorrance Scholarship Program Professor of Excellence in Teaching (2017–present), USDA/APLU Excellence in College and University Teaching Award (2020), and APLU Innovative Teaching Award (2018).

Current teaching roles include courses such as PAH 200 (Introduction to Applied Humanities), PAH 391 (Preceptorship), and PAH 420 (Innovation and the Human Condition). He serves as Co-Editor of Advances in the Study of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Growth and Associate Editor of Community Development.

Mars explores how local businesses and spaces shape community identity and economic resilience. His work bridges sociology, marketing, and environmental science to address challenges in sustainability, eco-entrepreneurship, and urban development.