Matthew Phillips is the associate provost for strategic initiatives, teaching professor of business law and ethics, and Exxon-Calloway Faculty Fellow. In his administrative role, he focuses on the alignment of academic resources and strategic priorities and he works with the deans, the Faculty Senate, and other university offices on faculty policy and governance.

He has received awards for excellence in teaching, including the "Ideas Worth Teaching" Award from the Aspen Institute in 2017, and he was named the 2015 Charles M. Hewitt Master Teacher by the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. He previously served as associate dean for MBA programs and director of an academic center.

Matthew received undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, where he focused on the intersections of law and religion in American history. He has done additional academic work, concentrating on leadership and strategy, at the U.S. Air Force's Air University. He is admitted to practice law before state and federal courts of North Carolina, the United States Tax Court, and the United States Supreme Court. He is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a Superior Court Mediator (currently inactive).

Matthew is past president of both the Wake Forest Faculty Senate and the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. He is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its dispute resolution section. As an instrument-rated private pilot, Matthew enjoys flying single-engine planes, and he is a pilot and legal officer in the Civil Air Patrol (the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary).

Business Ethics; Professions and Professional Ethics; Character and Leadership; Law; Foundations of Law; Property Rights; Non-Profit Management; Dispute Resolution; Mediation; Law and Religion; Income Tax; Estate Planning and Administration; Trust Administration

• Air War College, USAF Air University (Military Strategic Studies) - 2021
• Air Command and Staff College, USAF Air University (Military Operational Art & Science) - 2017
• JD, Wake Forest University (Law) - 2006
• MDiv, Duke University (Divinity) - 2003
• BA, Wake Forest University (Economics and Religion) - 2000

Research Interests

• Property Rights
• Business Ethics
• Professions and Professional Ethics
• Philosophical and Economic Foundations of Business Law

Teaching Interests

• Business Law
• Context of Business
• Ethical Decision Making
• Professional Ethics
• Income Tax

• Phillips, M. T. (2021).Law in the Profession of Business. Amazon.  | more information
• Herron, D. J., Sovacool, S.,  Phillips, M. T. (2019). Hayek's Theory of Spontaneous Order and the Normative Development of the Free Market and Common Law. The Journal Jurisprudence, 39,  239-261.  | more information
• Phillips, M. T. (2017). Three Uncles at the Bar. North Carolina State Bar Journal, 22 (3),  24-26.  | more information
• McCray, G. E., Iacovou, C. L., Roehm, M. L., Phillips, M. T.,  Reinemund, S. S. (2010). Paths to Performance. BizEd (Jan/Feb 2010),  42-46.  | more information

• 2021 - Exxon-Calloway Fellow, Wake Forest University School of Business
• 2021 - President, Wake Forest University Faculty Senate
• 2020 - Faculty Service Award, Wake Forest University School of Business
• 2019 - Ernie King Memorial Award (Outstanding Proceedings Reviewer), Academy of Legal Studies in Business
• 2019 - Executive Committee, Academy of Legal Studies in Business
• 2019 - Major General Dwight H. Wheless Legal Officer of the Year, Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary)
• 2018 - Ernie King Memorial Award (Outstanding Proceedings Reviewer), Academy of Legal Studies in Business
• 2018 - Ideas Worth Teaching Award, The Aspen Institute | Business & Society Program
• 2017 - Gill Robb Wilson Award, Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary)
• 2017 - Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Air University (U.S. Air Force)
• 2017 - Pro Bono Honor Society, N.C. Equal Access to Justice Commission, Supreme Court of North Carolina
• 2016 - John Hendley Fellowship, Wake Forest University School of Business
• 2016 - T.B. Rose Fellowship in Business, Wake Forest University School of Business
• 2015 - Faculty Affiliate, BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism, Wake Forest University School of Business
• 2015 - Charles M. Hewitt Master Teacher, Academy of Legal Studies in Business
• 2014 - Bernard L Beatty Faculty Fellowship, Wake Forest University School of Business
• 2013 - Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Air University (U.S. Air Force)

• June 30, 2020 - 2020's Most & Least Independent States , WalletHub| more information
• January 18, 2018 - First (Snow) Day of Class , VoiceThread Blog| more information
• November 6, 2016 - In Search of a Professional Politician , Inside Sources| more information
• June 29, 2016 - Brexit means trouble for Democrats and Republicans , North State Journal| more information
• June 1, 2016 - 2016's States with the Best and Worst Taxpayer ROI , WalletHub| more information
• October 26, 2014 - On the Spot: Honor seat reservations? That's up to the airline. , Los Angeles Times| more information