Michelle Matter, EdD brings more than 16 years of experience in analysis and evaluation of aging; health and family caregiving; long-term care efforts; as well as development and management of government affairs to the OPEN MINDS team as an Advisory Board Member.

In addition to joining OPEN MINDS, Dr. Matter is currently the Director of Aging at the SDSU Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity in San Diego. In this position, Dr. Matter implements and manages the San Diego Caregiver Connections direct workforce training and peer-to-peer support program for more than 200 participants; develops administrative policies, programs, and data collection efforts; as well as manages aging-related social media, marketing, outreach, social media, and website design.

Previously, Dr. Matter served as the Senior Policy Analyst at The SCAN Foundation. There, she analyzed and evaluated communication, policy, and programmatic issues related to aging, health, family caregiving, and long-term care efforts. Dr. Matter created communication products including research reports, issue briefs, and web content. She provided expertise skills in diversity, equity, and inclusion to drive systemic change in health and aging through participation the ASA RISE program.
Dr. Matter served as the Special Projects Director at ElderHelp of San Diego. In this position, Dr. Matter managed the government affairs, a nutrition program, and the Salesforce implementation. She also supervised the San Diego State Board Interns on the development of a year-long family caregiver project. She also wrote successful grant proposals for housing, care coordination, and food security.

Prior to this, Dr. Matter was the Director of Communications and External Affairs at Serving Seniors. While there, she wrote articles, blog posts, op-eds, fact sheets, grant proposals, and legislative updates. She managed communications and public affairs, including the creation of a quarterly magazine. She also developed advocacy strategies to promote aging policy at the local, state, and national level.

Dr. Matter also served as the Manager of Government Affairs at Bridgepoint Education. In this role she developed and managed a local and state government affairs program; identified, monitored, and analyzed higher education state legislation; and managed reporting compliance for lobbying and donor reports at the federal and state level.

Dr. Matter received her Doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. She received her Master of Business Administration degree in Healthcare Specialization from Louisiana State University. She received her Master of Arts degree in Gerontology from the University of Southern California. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Arizona State University.