Mathew Sandoval is an expert on Día de los Muertos, Hispanic traditions, history and culture. He received a Public Scholar grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to complete his book "A Cultural History of Day of the Dead: How Día de los Muertos Became 'Mexican.'" Sandoval is an Associate Teaching Professor at Barrett, The Honors College at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. He holds a PhD in Culture and Performance from UCLA, an MA in Individualized Study with a focus on Performance Studies from NYU, and a BA in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is also a Social Transformation Lab Fellow and an active member of ASU’s Chicano/Latino Faculty & Staff Association.

Dr. Sandoval's current research focuses on the transborder celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), analyzing its evolution from ancient Mesoamerican traditions to its current representation in mass media, tourism, and art. He conducts ethnographic studies in both Mexico and the US Southwest, exploring themes of transnationalism, race, spirituality, and cultural appropriation. His work also reflects on how the holiday resonates with his personal experiences as a mixed-race Chicano.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Sandoval has had a vibrant career in the arts, performing internationally as a dancer and storyteller. He has directed various seminars on performance and culture, including Barrett's travel programs in New York City and Spain-Morocco. He is also the host of the Race & Revolution film series at Tempe's Majestic Theatre and has collaborated on multiple artistic projects, including Kristina Wong’s performance, "Discharges from American History," in New York.