Staff Spotlight: Matt Erpelding
Matt brings an unusual blend of experience to his work at FSR. Originally from rural northern Iowa, not far from the Minnesota border, Matthew grew up in a small-town farming environment and was drawn early to the arts and music. That passion became his first career: he spent roughly 20 years in music education, teaching primarily at the high school level and also serving for several years as a director of choral activities at a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania.
His academic path in music took him from Luther College in Decorah to Northern Illinois University and then to the University of Iowa, where he earned his doctorate. Over time, though, Matthew began to recognize that some of the most meaningful parts of teaching for him were the moments closest to counseling. As a music teacher, he found himself doing far more than delivering content. He was building trust, creating safety, listening closely, and helping students navigate vulnerable moments.
That realization became especially clear in the relationships he formed with students who saw the arts as a place of belonging. Matthew describes music education as a space that often attracts young people still trying to find where they fit. He valued being someone they felt comfortable approaching, but he also came to recognize the limits of his training. When students brought him concerns that required deeper mental health support, he knew how to connect them with help, yet he also felt a strong desire to do more. This experience, combined with the disruptions and reassessments that came after COVID, led him to make a major career change.
Matthew returned to graduate school and earned a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from Minnesota State University, Mankato, graduating in 2024. He entered the counseling field determined to work in a mission-driven setting, and he focused his job search on nonprofit community mental health organizations. He was especially interested in serving people who face barriers to resources and opportunity, and he wanted to do that work outside a major metropolitan setting. FSR stood out immediately.
Since joining FSR in June 2024, Matthew says he has found exactly the kind of workplace he hoped for: authentic, collaborative, and grounded in compassion. He values the skill and collegiality of his coworkers, and he appreciates working in an environment where clinicians are trusted to do their jobs, grow in their craft, and seek support when they need it. For Matthew, that trust matters. It supports both good care and long-term sustainability in a demanding profession.
His years in music still shape how he works today. He describes both teaching and therapy as relational, improvisational, and rooted in careful listening. In music, he learned to pay attention to nuance, detail, and what lies beneath the surface. In counseling, that same attentiveness helps him hear subtext and stay responsive to each person’s goals.
Outside of work, Matthew lives in Rochester with his partner and their dog. He still writes music, plays video and board games, and enjoys reading and travel when he can.
