Matthew Aaron Shannon is from Scotia, NY. He and his two children Jessie and Ellah live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the Cambodia LIFE Center.

Matthew obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Technology Systems from the University of the Nations, Hawaii. He has over 15 years experience in the field of community development and project management. He also has extensive teaching experience in the field of world view development.

Matthew was involved in the design and construction of community development projects around the world including: Chieng Rai, Thailand; Porto Velho, Brazil; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Jakarta, Indonesia; Antananarivo, Madagascar; Oaxaca, Mexico;Luangprabang,Laos and Rangoon, Myanmar. These projects were all directed to help the poor and needy, specifically targeting widows and orphans. These projects solved the immediate need for food and water and worked towards longer term solutions to make the people financially independent.

Matthew also has experience with community relief projects. He worked with IMPACT Teams International in conjunction with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR).
Matthew was involved with IMPACT's work in Dravar, Bosnia, where the organization helped to uphold the Dayton Peace accord which resettled displaced Serbians in their homeland that had been occupied by Croatians.