Matt Lopez, Arizona State University

Five mins with

The PIE sat down with Matt Lopez, vice president of enrollment at Arizona State University, as the institution launched its new London campus. We spoke about ASU London, disrupting engineering and business educaton and the life-changing power of an early morning walk.

by Beth Kennedy

October 2 2026

4 Min Read

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Describe yourself in three words or phrases.

Curious. Energetic. Motivated

What do you like most about your job?

I like most the fact that enrolment spans the whole university, so I get inside into everything that’s going on – from a new medical school to purpose-driven programming towards the community. I get a small slice and a responsibility towards everything that we’re trying to do.

[International enrolments are] significant, especially because it’s been challenging in the United States right now. So it’s it’s certainly been a much larger focus than it probably has [in the past]. But we have aspirations to continue to grow our international enrolments – e have aspirations to grow all of our enrolment – we want to get to 300,000 students. In order to get there, we’ve got to grow internationally.

Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.

ASU London is a really fun project. It’s not like we’re taking another US institution’s approach. This is ASU in in London, but it’s different in the sense that it is a UK degree.

It is a hands-on degree, so there are no classrooms per se. All the students are engineers or business students from day one.

It’s integrated within problem solving and working directly with industry from day one. The students’ classroom is a maker space where they’re literally touching and feeling and breaking and trying to put back together whatever it is they’re working on.

It’s a new way to teach, and we think, maybe, it’s going to disrupt engineering and business education.

What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?

There’s so much to to be proud of. I think what I’m most proud of is the culture we’re building within our division.

This is early days, and I certainly have a biased opinion. But I think we’re building a place where individuals can find their place to have a voice, to have authority, to be creative and innovative. I’m really excited about that.

What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector?

Oh man, there are so many. There are about 100 million people in this world who don’t have access to higher education, and I think all of us have an important role of figuring out how we can provide more opportunity to the citizens of our world.

I’m a firm believer in democracy. I think education is an important piece of keeping democracy strong. I think it’s weak right now, and I think there are millions of people who would love to be to be able to have education, and there’s just no space for them.

What’s a small dail habit that helps you in your role?

I am an early riser who walks 45 minutes every morning. I’ve found that just getting my body moving opens up the mind, and I’ve been more creative.

What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?

It’s funny, I was just telling my colleague about this. So I just finished a biography on Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson, and I didn’t know how much history he has with with Britain and the fact that he lived here for decades.

But in American history, he’s almost an unknown almost, and he was way ahead of his time in so many things: being an inventor, being a collaborator to civil discourse, to welcoming different ideas. He essentially started the library system in the United States.

He was very civically minded. Fascinating book.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?

Go for it. University enrolment is an incredible world. You get to see the world – literally. not only feel it, touch it, taste it, but also be a part of change.

I am fortunate. I get home every day going, man. I think we’re making this world better every day.

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Beth Kennedy

Beth Kennedy is a journalist and editor with over 10 years' experience in specialist media. She completed her undergraduate degree in drama at the University of Exeter and has a master's in magazine journalism from Cardiff University. After a decade of reporting for primary healthcare professionals, Beth joined The PIE in 2024. Contact her at beth@thepienews.com.

View all articles by Beth

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