Recent SPH graduate Matthew Ryan Alvarez wants to improve men's mental health and help couples through therapy. As of May 2025, he’s got a masters in marriage and family therapy from UMD’s School of Public Health to help him reach his goals.
I want to create a space where men feel safe and supported.
During his time in the Department of Family Science, Alvarez’s research centered on encouraging emotional openness, connection and resilience in relationships, especially among underserved communities.
“I’m excited to be part of the SPH community and connect with others working at the intersections of mental health, public health and social change,” Alvarez said. “I want to keep building bridges between clinical care and public health to support emotional well-being in more inclusive and expansive ways.”
Alvarez is passionate about destigmatizing mental health and offering new perspectives on what mental health and therapy looks like. He focuses on working with couples and on men's mental health, noting that it is often overlooked and misunderstood. He believes it's important to normalize conversations surrounding mental health and to encourage men to seek support when needed.
“I want to create a space where men feel safe and supported,” Alvarez said. “This work matters deeply to me because it pushes back against the harmful stereotypes and invites more authentic, healthy expressions of masculinity.”
Alvarez says his degree helped him understand how relationships can affect mental health, gave him insight into the power of collaboration and fostered in him a strong commitment to reduce the societal shame around men's mental health.
“As my clinic graduate assistant during his last year in the Couples and Family Therapy program and through his exemplary clinical development, Matthew was able to show up as a leader among his peers,” said Dr. Tiara Fennell, clinical director of the SPH’s Center for Healthy Families. “I am excited to see his continued growth and impact as an alum of the program.”
Alvarez plans to continue his work as a couple and family therapist. He hopes to expand into community-level mental health training and advocacy in order to create spaces where men feel safe to explore emotional vulnerability and connection.
His advice to SPH students?
“Trust that your unique blend of interests is valid and needed. It’s easy to feel pressure to specialize narrowly, but some of the most impactful work comes from seeing connections across fields,” said Alvarez. “Stay curious, stay collaborative and don’t be afraid to carve your own path.”
– Sumaya Abdel-Motagaly