From business to philosophy to law, Matthew Graves has done it all. Union College is delighted to welcome him as an associate professor of business.
Graves grew up in Waverly, West Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a masters of business administration before attending law school. After completing his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona, he returned to West Virginia to practice law. He owned his own law firm for five years before he began teaching in the business department at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
“What drew me into higher education is its potential for helping others,” Graves said. “I feel my calling is to continue following my passion for education, but in a setting where I can freely talk about religion, God and the benefits and the love that He has for us.”
In his free time, Graves enjoys spending time with his wife Stephanie and their two daughters: five-year-old Charlotte and two-year-old Nora. “Right now, my wife and I are going through the Bible with the Spirit of Prophecy,” he said. “We really enjoy delving into God’s word and looking at the applications to today.”
Graves’ favorite subjects to teach are business law and business communication. He said, “I think business communication is one of the most important classes that any business student will ever take, because no matter what you do, you have to be able to communicate effectively. You could be the best CPA on the planet, but your skills aren’t going to be highly valued and utilized if you can’t communicate your abilities to your clients.”
Graves is passionate about helping students become excellent professionals in their chosen careers. He said, “If I could tell the students here one thing, it would be not to be afraid of failure. It is one of the best tools for growth. Always be willing to take the chance of volunteering and participating.”