A CALLING TO SERVE

Matt Lloyd (Illinois 93), like most who attend a large state school, was looking for a community to help make the university feel smaller. He was initiated into the FarmHouse chapter at the University of Illinois in 1993. In FarmHouse, Matt found more than brotherhood. He met his wife, Amy, through his FarmHouse little brother, Ryan Tate (Illinois 96). Matt and Amy have been married for 23 years this May and have two teenagers.

Matt looks back fondly on his time in the chapter. One of the biggest lessons he learned was how to get along with different types of people. “Even though agriculture was an influence for many in the chapter, it was amazing how diverse the men were,” said Matt. “I learned how to work with folks from different backgrounds with different perspectives on life, which has helped me immensely throughout my career.”

Matt’s career has spanned nearly three decades — almost all of it in public service. He started his government service in the U.S. House, where he served as communications director for then-Representative Mike Pence. He then served as Pence’s deputy chief of staff when he was Governor of Indiana. Following the 2016 Presidential election, Matt served in senior roles in the presidential administration — first at the Department of Health and Human Services, then as a senior advisor for public affairs at the State Department under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Matt also served as principal deputy director of public affairs at the Department of Justice under Attorney General Bill Barr.

Matt worked in the U.S Senate for Sen. Rob Portman from Ohio where he served as deputy chief of staff and communications director after the 2020 election. When Portman retired in 2022, Matt took the same job with Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, a member of the Senate Republican leadership.

When asked about these high-profile leaders, Matt said, “I am very thankful that I had phenomenal bosses throughout my career. All of them demanded excellence — challenged me and made me better. I am grateful to all of them for giving me the opportunity to serve the country.”

Living in close quarters, sharing workspaces and learning to coexist and communicate effectively are skills he learned in FarmHouse. Because many government workplaces are small, Matt has tapped into this skill and uses it every day. Ironically, throughout his career, he has often shared an office with at least one other person.

Perhaps most importantly, he believes a willingness to serve is a core value should be emphasized more in today’s society. From his faith, he learned the importance of serving, not only from his parents and his close friends, but also from his time in FarmHouse.

“During college, you can be influenced by so many things. FarmHouse’s focus on service made a strong impression on my life," Matt reflected.

Matt’s interest in public affairs grew out of his passions and was not his initial career goal. He always loved to write and even had a sports column in his high school newspaper. He also wrote articles for 4-H. He was eventually recruited to the agricultural communication program at Illinois by Dr. Jim Evans (Iowa State 52).

“Dr. Evans took great interest in the students and provided mentorship and encouragement. I am forever grateful to him for all of his help,” Matt said. Through this program, Matt learned he was really interested in public relations because he enjoyed the process of persuading and convincing an audience to come around to a particular view. This eventually translated into a career in public service.

However, working in Washington D.C. was not a goal for Matt. He assumed once married, he and Amy would stay in the Midwest and he would work in agricultural public affairs. “But God had other plans,” Matt said. His only job offer upon graduation was from the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), based in Washington, D.C. — so he packed up his car and moved to the East Coast.

Matt was politically aware for most of his young adult life, but never directly involved in politics. Lessons learned from FarmHouse influenced him to pursue excellence as he started his career at NCFC. He soon caught the political bug, but later realized he was really called to public service. Matt found he excelled in public service and understood life was not so much about him, but about serving a higher calling.

“Most political staffers don’t stay long,” he explained. “It is really hard work with long hours and unless you have a calling and a passion for it. It is easy to burn out quickly. When you look at it as serving others, it adds a whole new meaning to the work – it’s not politics anymore but public service, and that is really fulfilling.”

Matt hopes more people, especially those who are younger and just starting in their careers, will feel that same calling.

“My biggest piece of advice is to find a place where you can serve others, especially for a cause or an ideal higher than yourself,” he said. “The country needs this mindset now more than ever. Making a difference by serving on any level, big or small, will make our country better.”

When asked what advice he would give to others, Matt offered the following:

• Find where you are called to serve. Everyone has a place – find yours and commit to serving there.

• Find a mentor. “I want to be the best in my field and to achieve that I want to learn from the best. I reached out to folks who are at the top of their game and asked them to teach me,” he said.

Matt reflected on his advice and concluded, “As Sen. Daines says, ‘Keep moving forward each day. Some days will be a leap, others will be a baby step, but as long as you keep moving forward, you are making progress.’”

Matt Lloyd with his daughter, Charlotte, outside the West Wing of the White House April 2017.

Matt Lloyd working with Sen. Steve Daines (MT) right off the Senate floor in the Capitol in what is known as the Ohio clock corridor.

Matt Lloyd and his family with Vice President Pence in the Indiana Governor’s office at his portrait unveiling in the Indiana Statehouse Aug. 2017.