About Us
Matthew M. Fay
I am the oldest of six, father of four, and grandfather of five. I was married once and have been divorced for over twenty years. My work career started as a paperboy delivering newspapers, mall maintenance sweeping floors and cleaning bathrooms, fast food (worker, trainer, manager), U.S. Navy Electronic Technician/Nuclear Reactor Operator on a fast-attack submarine, cable company (technician, trainer), electrical assembler (union shop building industrial lasers), computer repair technician, started a retail game store and retired from it (my two boys now own it), and that brings us to Intrepid Scholar. As for an education, I hold no degrees. I was an electronic vocational graduate from high school, went a year towards an electrical engineer degree, lots of schooling in the Navy, local tech school several times over the years for classes from technology to history, a term at a local university towards a theology degree, and a year at a seminary towards a religious certificate. There are also many free online courses I have taken over the last few years. I am currently not enrolled in any courses. I suffer from recurrent depression and obsessive-compulsive traits. The latter has led to many interesting side pursuits into a variety of subjects. I have always been an avid reader, and this has greatly increased my perspective of the world. I started by reading mysteries and fantasy novels and this led to biographies and histories. I have read many of the Great Books of the Western World series. I love to read, recite, and write poetry. Other various interests and items of note from my past and present: president of a business association for five years, play guitar, like to listen to old records on a Victrola, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, gardening, cooking and baking, genealogy research, Dungeons & Dragons (player and DM), painting and playing miniature games, Magic the Gathering, computer games (Civilization IV-BTS, Crusader Kings II, 7 Days to Die, Skyrim), Elvis impersonator and karaoke (those days are gone), and I was even a guest on the Jerry Springer Show many, many years ago. A couple of years ago I took a trip to Russia with some friends. We visited St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl and it was an eye-opening experience. But one of the most important and influential things in my life is my religion: I am a Roman Catholic. My faith in God has been my rock and salvation throughout my life.
Wendy M. Vinson
I’m a college adjunct whose hours were cut back due to the troubles of 2020, but I still plan to teach even if it’s not in a classroom. My degrees are in Math and Chemistry. I worked at various jobs in the business and chemistry fields before settling into math and helping disadvantaged students get their college career off to a strong start.
I am of the opinion that “Just because I can’t afford an education doesn’t mean I can afford to be uneducated.” as I said often when I was younger.
I took it upon myself to learn what I could, inside and outside the classroom. My interests are many and varied. And now I plan to share that acumen with others.