Matthew Frierdich

Matthew Frierdich is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Missouri, affiliated with the Honors College, Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, and Truman School of Government and Public Affairs. His work focuses on political theory, memory activism, and democratic engagement, particularly in the context of public memorials addressing race and racialized violence. Contact: mfghp@missouri.edu | Phone: 573-882-3330.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Theory, University of Virginia
• B.A. in History and Government, Drury University
• M.Div., Vanderbilt Divinity School

Research Interests: Dr. Frierdich examines how activism around public memorials intersects with democratic practices, analyzing the potential and challenges of memory as a political vernacular for justice in the U.S. and beyond. His dissertation explores the role of monument removal in redefining democratic engagement and humanity.

Roles and Contributions: He coordinates the collaborative Kinder Honors sequence in Revolutions and Constitutions, blending political theory with constitutional democracy education. Prior to academia, he worked as a board-certified chaplain at Vanderbilt Medical Center, reflecting his interdisciplinary background.

Personal Life: A native of Kirkwood, Missouri, Dr. Frierdich cultivates a vegetable garden, enjoys Marvel comics, horror films, and used books. He resides with his partner Emily, son Ezra, and cats Zelda and Tish.