ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ, mˈæθiəz ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌmðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv mˈɛɹɪlˌænd, bˈɔltɪmˌoːɹ kˈaʊnti, wɪð ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv ˈɑːɹts dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns.
In 1974, Mathias graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.