Matt Aliff is LiKEN’s Community Science Coordinator for Coal River in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Born into a coal mining family in southern West Virginia, Matt brings a deep appreciation for the region’s communities, cultural heritage, and local histories to his work. His experience growing up in the area grounds his commitment to LiKEN’s mission and to community-led projects that honor place-based knowledge.

Outside of work, Matt stays closely connected to the natural world through beekeeping, homesteading, and hunting. He believes the outdoors offers endless opportunities to learn, observe, and build relationships with the land and the communities that call it home.