Matthew Green has seen the look a hundred times. 
 

It's the look students get when an assignment feels impossible, when a database screen is confusing, or when a paper comes back full of feedback. It's the look that usually comes right before everything clicks, and that's when he does his best work. 

 
As one of UTA Libraries' Research Mavs, Green meets students at that moment and helps them find their footing. He is a third-year information systems major, thoughtful and steady, the kind of person who listens carefully before speaking. 

 
"Our main thing is helping students with any type of research-related questions that they might have for the class," Green said. "They have never used a database and don't know the complexities of what these filters do and what they mean. That can be quite confusing for a lot of people." 

 
Green says it with empathy because he remembers what it was like to be on the other side. Before guiding students through scholarly articles and search strategies, Green was the one struggling to figure out credible sources and how academic research really worked. Those early frustrations shape the way he helps now. 

 
"When you see somebody have that light bulb moment, that is really what it is all about," Green said. "Sometimes that moment comes quickly, other times it takes an hour of walking backward through an assignment, rebuilding it piece by piece. Then it is just that one thing they find, and suddenly everything clicks together; it's incredible to watch." 

 
Setting a Standard for Excellence 

 
That patience and care are what make Green such a cornerstone of the Research Mavs program. 

 
"Matthew is the kind of person who will always look for where he has room to grow so he can better help others, which is a testament to his character," Collin Stephenson, Research Success Librarian, said. "He is diligent in ensuring that any student who comes to us leaves not just informed about research, but confident in their ability to do great work. As one of our first Research Mavs, he has helped set a standard of excellence for the program that others will follow for years to come." 

 
Green has been with the program since its early days, helping it expand into classroom workshops, 24/7 chat support, and one-on-one consultations. But at its heart, it is still about the same thing: students helping students. 

Building Confidence Step by Step 

 
One story Green often recalls is of a nursing student returning to school to complete her BSN. She had never done in-depth research before. Her assignment had been handed back multiple times, and she felt discouraged. 

 
"It was all very new to her," Green said. "She didn't feel like what she was supposed to be doing was explained well." 

 
So, they started from scratch. Step by step, they navigate databases, evaluated sources, and found strong, relevant articles. By the end, she earned high marks and, more importantly, confidence in her ability to tackle research. 

 
"That is our goal," Green said. "Not just a better paper but helping someone feel capable of doing this on their own next time." 

 
It's that focus on lasting skills that drives Green.  

 
"You are giving people the tools to further their research careers," Green remarked. "Hopefully, people will take these things and run with them." 

Making Research Less Intimidating 

 
At UTA, research is central to so many programs. Many students arrive not fully aware of how quickly they will need to develop these skills. 

 
"They need to develop those skills, and they need to do it quite rapidly," Green stated. 

 
Research Mavs helps make that process less intimidating. Students are not sitting across from someone distant or intimidating; they are talking to a fellow Maverick who has been in their  
shoes and understands the pressure. 

 
"For us, we know and we get it and have been through it before," Green says. 

 
That relatability builds trust, and trust builds confidence. 

 
Balancing Work and Passion 

 
Outside of the Libraries, Green is thoughtful about his own path. He chose information systems, he says, for career stability. Though his passions stretch into physics and mathematics, subjects he hopes to revisit one day. He is exploring possibilities in cybersecurity, database administration, and even the military. 

 
Even beyond work and academics, Green finds balance in music; he's a bassist following in his father's footsteps, and in reading, often exploring subjects that fascinate him, from physics to history.  

"Sometimes I end up doing research for fun," Green says with a laugh, "I'm just digging into something I'm curious about." 

 
Making a Difference Every Day 

 
For now, what is clear is this: students are stronger because Green and his fellow Research Mavs are here, ready to help. The Research Mavs' work is a reminder that at UTA Libraries, helping students succeed is not just a goal; it's a mission carried out one light bulb moment at a time.