Chapel Hill's Matthew Chamberlin shares Five Things He's Learned about America
View the next in our new series of messages, ideas, and inspiration – shared directly from Americans we admire.
Five Things I’ve Learned began with the aim of learning directly from people we long admired. Now, as we get ready for our upcoming Fall Class Series, we’re also continuing to collect and share written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences give shape to the issues at the heart of our upcoming national election.
Thanks to everyone for the kind and enthusiastic response we’ve received to this ongoing series.
Today, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Associate Dean Mathew Chamberlin shares Five Things He’s Learned About America.
Matthew leads the communications and marketing unit at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, overseeing the School’s internal and external communications and marketing efforts and helping to maintain the School’s ranking as the number one public school of public health.
Five Things I’ve Learned about America
“My name is Matthew Chamberlin. I live in North Carolina.…I'm the associate Dean for communications at a big university.”
For better or worse, we’re a country that’s big on second chances.
“One of the things that makes me saddest – or most keeps me on guard, I guess – is the nonstop litany of what feels like negative news, whether it's around the environment, whether it's around the economy or the election, or you know what's going on in Israel and Gaza, whatever. You know, choose your adventure.“
The way we’ve walled ourselves off is an under-reported news story.
"If you limit your exposure to other people and to other things, your life slowly gets smaller and smaller. And your world gets smaller and smaller."
Often, you also have to listen to what’s not being said.
"People here don't always get to the point. But it makes you have to be more sensitive, more open – You have to listen better!"
We’re still very much a big melting pot. You just don't hear people talking about the melting pot like you used to when we were younger.
“When Obama became president, it opened up a lot of people's eyes….I was Obama before Obama was Obama – but he gets all the credit.”
With every generation, there’s so much new to be encouraged about – including this one.
“Seeing my own kids and the exposure that they've had to other cultures, to other people, to other ways of doing things: It makes me feel very positive about the future.”
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
ABOUT MATTHEW
Since 2019, Matthew Chamberlin has led the communications and marketing unit at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina. In this role, he oversees all internal and external communications and marketing efforts, including media relations, digital marketing, alumni publications, internal and external newsletters, social media and the Gillings website, helping to maintain the School’s ranking as the number one public school of public health. He also launched the first-of-its-kind public health communications fellowship, comprised of four master’s students, in support of local health departments in six rural North Carolina counties.
Prior to joining the Gillings School, Matthew founded and led an independent digital marketing consultancy with clients in higher ed, media, design, art and architecture.
MORE ABOUT FIVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT AMERICA
Five Things I’ve Learned about America presents live, personal conversations with leading thinkers, organizers, and advocates for our democracy. In tandem, we’re soliciting and sharing written pieces, short videos, and other bursts of ideas and inspiration from people whose ideas and experiences are equally inspiring and instructive.
If you’ve just recently discovered us, please check out recent reflections about America from people we admire including including Tony Alcaraz, Yvette Benavides, David Martin Davies, Sarah Fay, Francisco Guajardo, Tina Hedin, Marya Hornbacher, Megan Matson, Jeannine Ouellette, Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Greg Sandow, Brooke Warner, Oliver Wasow, and Jamie Whalen.
And check out our free conversation series presented in partnership with Resolute Square, featuring 90-minute sessions with Americans we admire including Alan Light, Jennifer Mercieca, Beto O'Rourke, Trygve Olson, and Stuart Stevens.