Matthew Kuchem

Matthew Kuchem is the Associate Director of BPC’s Campus Free Expression Project. The project collaborates with leaders in higher education to promote campus culture and university policies that encourage the robust, free exchange of ideas across differences.

Prior to joining BPC, Kuchem was Assistant Professor of Political Science at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he specialized in political philosophy and American politics. He has also served on the faculties of Indiana University, Bloomington and DePauw University. At Bethel, Kuchem served on the faculty senate, where he spearheaded a successful revision of the general education curriculum and the development of numerous academic policies. He has written for popular and scholarly publications, and co-produced 85 episodes of the Election Shock Therapy podcast. In 2022 he collaborated in developing curriculum and delivering virtual lectures for a certificate program on American politics sponsored by Ukrainian Catholic University and funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

Kuchem earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Indiana University, Bloomington. He earned a B.S. in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism from Union University (Tennessee), where he was awarded the Elizabeth Tigrett Medal for the most outstanding graduating senior.