If it weren’t for the encouragement of a family friend, Dr. Matthew Parker admits he probably wouldn’t have ventured too far from home after high school.
“Wabash wasn’t on my radar at first until I got to talking with John Linnenberg ’65, the father of one of my best friends from high school,” recalls Matt, who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Around here at that time, most kids stayed local. There weren’t a lot of people who pursued other options out of state, even ones that aren’t too far away.
“John was very much a believer in unique experiences and opportunities at Wabash,” he explains. “He helped me realize that I was going to get so much more out of my undergraduate education with a liberal arts degree.”
As a history major and chemistry minor at Wabash, Matt learned how to think critically, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with others—all skills that have helped him thrive since graduating in 1995.
He attended dental school at Ohio State University and earned a doctorate in dental surgery in 2000. He then went on to the University of Alabama to receive his accreditation in periodontics. Matt served as a periodontist in the U.S. Navy for three years and eventually established Parker Periodontics and Implant Dentistry of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2018 where he currently practices and serves as president.
“When I got to dental school, I had all the skills needed to succeed in terms of curriculum,” Matthew said, “but what stood out most when I started treating patients in the clinic were the soft skills I learned at Wabash.
“That’s how I spend my day every day,” he continued. “I have to tailor my approach to different personalities when meeting with patients in order to understand their diverse perspectives and how best to communicate with them.”
Both Matt and his wife, Emily, strongly believe in the merits of a rigorous liberal arts education focused on developing skills to be an effective leader. That’s why the two decided to establish a scholarship designed to encourage other students from out-of-state to attend Wabash.
The Matthew and Emily Parker Family Scholarship supports students with demonstrated financial need, with first priority given to those who are from the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area.
“I can relate to that kid who probably needs a little bit of help financially and who wants to expand his world beyond what he thought was possible when he was in high school. I want to be that mentor who helps get that kid to Wabash,” Matt said. “I also want to support the future of the College. Wabash is coming up on its 200 years, and I think part of that continuous line will be recruiting kids from Cincinnati.”
“We’re at an age and place now that we wanted to think about the best ways to give back that would have the greatest impact and leave a legacy behind,” Emily added. “Wabash has been such an important part of our lives post Matt graduating, so it naturally was at the top on the list.”
Creating the scholarship was also a way for the couple to celebrate and honor the lifelong friendships that were forged at Wabash.
Matt regularly keeps in touch with seven “Wallies,” some of which studied abroad with him at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland while they were students.
The friends go on “man-cation” every two years and have attended the British Open in Scotland, gone fly fishing in Montana, and hiked in New Mexico. The wives join the trip every 10 years. The group of 14 friends—which have 19 kids in all—vacationed last June in Florence, Italy.
“They are just a huge part of our lives—every single one of them,” Emily said. “Those friendships are foundational. Our children look at the Wabash group as being part of the family. We all love each other and lean on one another for guidance and support.”
“Those guys have been my closest friends for 30 years and counting,” Matt said, “and it’s all thanks to Wabash.”
Tim Smith ’26, a physics major and math minor, is the first recipient of the Matthew and Emily Parker Family Scholarship. He is a part of Wabash’s dual degree engineering program and a member of the wrestling team.
“I felt like Wabash would be a true home away from home for me,” Smith said. “The community feeling amongst students, faculty, and alumni is unmatched at any other institution and I knew that my new teammates would become lifelong friends.”
Smith, a Cincinnati native who attended Colerain Senior High School, plans to pursue graduate school for mechanical engineering or enter the workforce after Wabash. His goal is to work on mechanical devices such as engines or consumer products.
“Receiving this scholarship helped influence my decision in coming to Wabash as tuition was my major concern when looking at different schools,” he said. “I would like to extend my gratitude to the Parkers and their generous gift that allowed me to attend this amazing school. The scholarship has been extremely helpful to me and my family.”
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