Matthew Davis
Matthew Davis is the author of “When Things Get Dark: A Mongolian Winter’s Tale.” He has been an Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fellow at New America, a Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV, and a Fulbright Fellow to Syria and Jordan. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa and an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. His recent book is “A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore.”
From the grandeur of Mount Rushmore, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, to the spiritual serenity of the Leshan Giant Buddha in China, Petra in Jordan, Ellora Caves in India. These carvings connect us to our past and inspire us to appreciate the beauty and complexity of our shared heritage, as well as ensure their stories and significance endure for future generations.
July 17, 2026
