Matthew Whisman likes a challenge. That’s part of the reason he has a master’s degree, is working on his Ph.D., and plans to get another master’s degree after that.

The other part of the reason? “I was lucky to get a scholarship to St. X, and I never want to waste that opportunity.”

Matthew has a master’s degree in public administration and just started his Ph.D. in higher education. After that, a master’s degree in public health will give him what he needs to help change the way institutions of higher learning design their campuses, buildings, and even dorm and classrooms to better serve the health and experience of their students.

In the meantime, Matthew is happy bringing dignity to those in our community who die without the family or resources to provide a funeral, and, in some cases, comfort to their families. As director of Catholic Charities’ Indigent Burial program, Matthew facilitates weekly burials at Meadow View Cemetery in Valley Station. The program is a joint venture with Catholic Charities, Metro Government Coroner’s Office, Metro Parks, and volunteers with local Catholic high schools and the St Joseph of Arimathea Society.

Matthew appreciates being able to provide dignity to individuals who die in humble settings, some of them homeless, some of them having lost their battle with addiction, and some of them simply financially unable to pay for a funeral. “It’s a terrible decision for a family to choose between paying for rent and paying for a burial,” Matthew said. “But it’s a decision far too many families have to make.”

When he’s not at work or in class, Matthew likes to travel, hike with his dog, Ophelia, and tackle home projects. An avid fan of University of Kentucky sports, he’s installing a theatre screen that can be viewed both outdoors (on his patio with grill, seating, and firepit) and indoors (in case of inclement weather), all for UK football games. “If you don’t know I’m a huge UK fan, it’s because you don’t know me,” he laughs. “And because you’ve never stepped into my basement,” where he paid $40 extra to get the NCAA approved UK blue paint.

Matthew said Crater Lake, Oregon, is the most beautiful place he’s ever traveled to, and that Philadelphia has the most travel-worthy food. “Philly cheese steaks. It makes me want to go there right now and get one.”

He loves food, and named Queen of Sheba as one of his favorite restaurants. It serves Ethiopian food that you eat with your hands (“that’s a little weird to people, but it’s worth it”). He has discovered Christy’s Café near the Meadow View Cemetery that features an amazingly varied menu “that they do well. Every dish is good.” He also likes Taco Choza in St. Matthews and, “when I have extra money,” Le Relais at Bowman Field.

Matthew often hikes with his “best friend,” Opehlia, a boxer-pit bull mix who defies all stereotypes about the breeds. “She’s sweet, timid, and quiet. She plays with squirrels and lets little dogs yap all around her.” She is also ruled by three cats who share Matthew’s home “and pretty much run it.” All of his animals are rescues and he plans to never purchase a pet unless it’s a pot-bellied pig. “I’ve always wanted one.” In fact, Matthew already has his name picked out: Albert Swinestein.

A history buff, Matthew also likes to visit museums. His favorites include the Underground Railroad Museum in Philadelphia and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. The museum that most surprised him by being interesting is the Great American Dollhouse Museum in Danville, Ky.. This museum of miniatures included a scavenger hunt of items in the displays to and check off. “I thought, ‘This is going to be horrible’ and I was shocked at how interesting it really was.

Matthew said it might surprise people to know that at age 28 he already has two great nephews. Then again his friends like to tease him that he is “an 85-year-old man in a 28-year-old’s body.”

Before coming to Catholic Charities, Matthew worked as an activities director at Nazareth Home, and he is still on call there to substitute when needed. “I love going back because I love my residents,” he said with a smile. “People ask me why I go back, and I think, ‘I get to hang out with some very cool people today.’”