Matthew Stanley is a retired Correctional Officer with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, serving from 2012 to 2026. He spent six years as a Sergeant in the Education Unit at Minnesota Correctional Facility–Oak Park Heights and worked extensively in crisis response as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Specialist, Coach, and Instructor. His service also included roles as a SORT Operator, Field Training Officer, and Safety Committee Member, and he was honored as CIT Officer of the Year in 2020.

Outside of corrections, Matthew is a Black Belt in Karate and Kickboxing and a certified Karate Instructor. He is passionate about physical fitness, regularly engaging in weightlifting, long-distance running, boxing, kickboxing, and fitness training.

Family is at the center of Matthew’s life. He enjoys spending time with his daughter, stepson, fiancé, and their dog, Sawyer. In his downtime, he loves gardening, baking, and cooking for others. Above all, Matthew is driven by a deep desire to help people who are struggling find their path to recovery. He is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with the Invisible Wounds Project, where he combines his professional experience, personal passions, and commitment to wellness to serve those who serve others.