Matthew Gibson

Matthew Gibson is the Executive Director of Virginia Humanities, the state’s humanities council. Under his leadership, Virginia Humanities has continued to broaden its support and programming to every corner of the state, deepen its commitment to storytelling, and foster a more expansive understanding of Virginia’s past and present.

Matthew first joined Virginia Humanities in 2005 to create and build Encyclopedia Virginia, a pioneering educational resource that provides open access to Virginia’s rich history and culture. Since becoming executive director in 2017, he has championed innovative programming, community engagement, and statewide partnerships to reach Virginians with the humanities programs and grants to serve all Virginians with access to and information about the Commonwealth’s history, cultural traditions, and heritage.

A dedicated advocate for the public humanities, Matthew believes in the power of stories to connect people, bridge divides, and shape a more just and informed society. Under his leadership, Virginia Humanities recently launched a new statewide regional humanities center effort to enhance local support for grassroots cultural organizations and programs.

Before his tenure at Virginia Humanities, Matthew worked in higher education with a focus on digital scholarship, bringing a unique blend of historical expertise and technological innovation to his work. He holds an MA and PhD in English from the University of Virginia. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.