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January 13, 2026
Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Honors the Life and Legacy of Mathew McCollough, Director of the District of Columbia Office of Disability Rights
The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) joins the District’s disability community in mourning the loss of Mathew “Mat” McCollough, a beloved leader, advocate, and trusted voice for persons with disabilities, their families, and the communities in which they live.
The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) mourns the loss of Mathew “Mat” McCollough who effectively and passionately fulfilled his duties as Director of the DC Office of Disability Rights. Mat was recognized both locally and nationally as an exemplary leader and trusted advocate to many constituency groups.
Mat served for more than eight years as Director of the DC Office of Disability Rights. He was a steadfast champion for access, inclusion, equity, and the rights of people with disabilities across all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Mat’s inspiring leadership skills enabled him to bring together people with disabilities and their families, community partners, advocates, and government agencies to strengthen protections and improve disability support systems in the District of Columbia.
Mat was a valued member of the GUCEDD Advisory Council (GAC). He shared his in- depth knowledge and lived experience of disability in a way that connected with everyone. He was known for his warm, welcoming smile and his genuine willingness to listen, always making time for anyone who wanted to share their story. Mat believed deeply in the importance of hearing directly from persons with disabilities and their family members. He carried those voices with him into every space he entered in a humble and authentic manner.
Mat collaborated with GUCEDD colleagues in many ways over the years. Through the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), he served as a:
· Wisdom Council Member for the Leadership Institute for Cultural Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence (CLC)
· Faculty for the CLC Leadership Academy
· Lecturer for the Learning and Reflection Forums
· Mentor for disability professionals nationwide; and
· Member of the Advisory Council for the Community of Practice on Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Developmental Disabilities.
He participated in planning the GUCEDD’s Annual Conference and volunteered in numerous other capacities to advise local collaborative projects with DC’s federally funded programs, including the DC Developmental Disabilities Council and Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services.
Mat was deeply committed to developing the next generation of disability leaders. His involvement with Georgetown’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (GULEND) included serving as a mentor to students in the program, generously sharing his knowledge, experience, and encouragement. Meeting a senior District government official who was a person with a developmental disability and learning from him how his lived experience of disability influenced his leadership was a transformative experience for many of the students.
Mat was also an active participant in Georgetown University’s Equity Learning Community and Community of Practice, which focused on advancing racial equity in intellectual and developmental disabilities through culturally and linguistically competent systems of support. In this space, he brought deep listening and a strong respect for the lived experience of disability, contributing to shared learning applicable across contexts in the District and beyond.
Mat led with empathy, kindness, and fairness. His passing is deeply felt throughout the disability community in DC and nationally. His leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to inclusion, accessibility, and equity will continue to shape justice for people with disabilities in the years to come.
GUCEDD extends its deepest condolences to Mat’s wife, Melissa McCollough, as well as to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched. While we grieve this tremendous loss, we honor and celebrate Mat’s life and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
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