Adjunct Professor of History
My name is Matt Beasley. I was born and raised in Hartwell, Ga. Upon graduating from high school, I attended Young Harris College. It was there I met then Lt. Governor Zell Miller that sparked my interests in government. I graduated from YHC with an associate degree and transferred to the University of Georgia. While at UGA, I was active in political events, often traveling to Washington DC. Before graduating, I was a candidate for the Georgia legislature. Winning my primary, I was defeated in the general election. I was graduated from the University of Georgia with a BSED in social science education with a minor in political science. The following fall, I accepted a teaching position at Hart County High School. I retired after a thirty-year teaching career.
While teaching, I earned my master’s degree from Clemson and returned to UGA for my specialist degree. During that time, I was elected two terms as a city councilman for the City of Hartwell and then completed two terms as mayor. My first task was to turn around our sanitation department which was running in a deficit. I recommended the city implement its first recycling program and cost saving measures. For my efforts, I received the National Small Town Leadership Award. I also was named one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 30 under 30. I was appointed by Governor Perdue to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Agency. As a board member of the Municipal Gas Authority and Appalachian Regional Commission, I lobbied both in Atlanta and DC. I hope to share with students my first-hand account of being involved in federal, state and local government as well as my love of political science.
I am married to my wife of twenty-six years, April. We have one daughter, Morgan, who is also a teacher. We are members of Hartwell Methodist Church.
