Matt Essieh ’82 MBA ’84 came to SOU as a young student unaware that his academic experience would lead him to find his true purpose in life. Matt grew up in a small rural farming community in Ghana where many did not have access to education. As luck would have it, he was chosen from 40 students in his class to attend a high school supported by three Peace Corps volunteers. Upon completion of that education, one of those volunteers—whose family lived in Grants Pass—facilitated his travel to southern Oregon where he enrolled at SOU.

Matt describes SOU as a place that opened his eyes to the world, particularly with the vibrant community of students who were living in Aspen Hall. He developed friendships with people from all over the world. He attributed his subsequent success in business and entrepreneurship directly to his experience at SOU.

Matt met his Nigerian-born wife Emmanuella ’82 while they were international students. “There’s no way we would have met in Africa,” said Matt. Emmanuella agreed, “I wouldn’t have looked at my husband twice if I had met him in Africa,” she laughed. “College is a great equalizer.”

Matt is founder and CEO of Beaverton-based EAI Information Systems, a company that develops Financial Services Technology for banks, brokerage, and insurance companies to manage investments. Emmanuella is the co-founder and president of KMJ Asset Management in Portland, a residential property investment and management firm.

The Essiehs’ success provided an opportunity to support other Ghanaians in their educational pathway. The Essieh Family Fund, established by Matt, Ella, and their son Kwame represents the fruits of their accomplishments and is resourced from the family’s success. Emmanuella said,

“Our nonprofit work was started because of my husband’s passion to give back to others and pay forward his experiences. He knows what it is like to have dreams and aspirations but to feel hopeless about not being able to realize them. We want to help students have an opportunity to get a solid education and a better future.”

A core mission of the Essieh Family Fund is to provide financial aid and educational assistance for students in Ghana, and a gift to SOU from the Essieh family will facilitate an exchange between Ghana and SOU. It is the first of its kind between SOU and an African country. “Thanks to my education at SOU, my worldview was greatly expanded. With the success I’ve been blessed with, the time has come for me to pay it forward,” said Matt.

Still in its infancy, the exchange program will begin as an online opportunity and evolve into an in-person international effort. It aims to foster cultural exchange by giving students the opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the world. The goal is for students to learn about, appreciate, and respect different cultures while working together to solve problems.

Matt hopes these interactions will lead to transformative life experiences, particularly for students from rural areas who may gain a new perspective on the world, much like he did.