Student cherishes time helping others at Food Pantry, Center for Civic Engagement

The longest-serving person at the Binghamton University Food Pantry, Matthew Pangburn '23, MS '25, is this year's Graduate Student Employee of the Year.

Having worked at the pantry since spring 2020 and also at the Center for Civic Engagement, Pangburn sees this recognition as a culmination of his diligent efforts throughout his Binghamton experience.

After completing his undergraduate studies in political science and history, Pangburn decided to take his talents to higher education and student affairs at the College of Community and Public Affairs. His passion lies in helping the students who need it.

"I'm really interested in helping college students as a whole. I like being a resource for others," he said.

Working in the food pantry is a rewarding, if at times overwhelming, experience. With it comes an emotional load, because of the nature of the work. The students using the pantry are financially restricted, showing the very real problem of food insecurity.

"The challenge that is presented to me, that I have yet to figure out a solution for, is the emotional burden of working with students who you know need the service," he said. "It's a constant thought of: what more can we be doing to help these students? It can be overwhelming at times, but it's also what keeps me going every day."

Having worked at the pantry for so long, Pangburn knows the ins and outs of the entire operation. Now that he's close to graduating, it's time for him to impart his wisdom to the newcomers.

"Having the interns with me, being able to develop their skills and teach them about food insecurity, makes me feel a whole lot better. Knowing that these students now have the knowledge to pass on to others in turn gives me a certain peace of mind," he said.

As if that wasn't enough, Pangburn decided to expand his reach to the Center for Civic Engagement, where he does community outreach and engagement with coordinator Renae Barber. Here, he works with data analytics, creating surveys and organizing focus groups. Recently, his attention has been on the civil dialogue project, where first-year students learn how to have respectful conversations and debates.

"They're quite different experiences," he said. "The food pantry is a face-to-face, hands-on kind of job, whereas at the Center for Civic Engagement, I can be on my laptop and have some alone time. Both are really great."

Pangburn's regard in higher education was fueled by the skills and experiences from his time at Binghamton. In undergraduate and graduate courses, he became a close reader, an information synthesizer, a writer, a thinker - and a lifelong learner.

"I'm a promoter of education for education's sake. I think it teaches you how to communicate," he said. "If you can't communicate effectively, what's really the point?"

Now preparing to leave his postings, Pangburn is looking to what's next for Binghamton. He dreams of a bright future for the services provided to the University community.

"Although lofty and impractical in some ways, I think having one office that deals with all of a student's needs - a sort of one-stop shop for student services - would change how students interact with the university and how they succeed," he said.

His main goal is to center the student, setting aside the noise of the politics and institutional red tape to focus on what truly matters: the student's growth, curiosity, safety and success.

To students wanting to follow in his footsteps, he leaves a simple piece of advice: Don't be afraid to reach out, be curious and communicate.