Farmingdale State College (FSC) was proud to welcome members of its campus community to Finding Balance in the Upside Down: An Evening with Gaten Matarazzo, marking a memorable conclusion to the fall 2025 semester.  The packed evening event, held in the Nold Athletic Complex gymnasium, saw record attendance with more than 1,500 FSC faculty, staff, students, family, and friends.  

Best known for starring as Dustin Henderson in the Netflix science-fiction drama series “Stranger Things,” Matarazzo’s “loyalty, humor, and resilience have resonated with audiences worldwide,” said Deborah Hecht, student advocate. Volume 1 of the show’s fifth and final season reached 59.6m views in just five days--the best premiere week for an English-language series in Netflix history.  

At the "fireside chat" style event, Matarazzo sat down with Director of Campus Mental Health Services Shane Owens, PhD, ABPP, to talk about his extensive acting career, raising awareness for cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), mental resilience, and his future aspirations.  

"Many of our students grew up with “Stranger Things,” and Gaten’s portrayal of Dustin has always felt like the heartbeat of the show—an embodiment of hope that helps his friends push through adversity,” said Assistant Dean of Students Frank Rampello. “Meeting him only strengthened that connection.” 

Matarazzo, 23, started his professional career in the original Broadway production of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical” in 2011, and later starred in “Godspell” and “Les Misérables” to critical acclaim. 

“I loved it,” Matarazzo said of the experience. “It was just kind of something I normalized, that whole process. When you're nine years old, your job is to go wherever you're told, and listen, and be respectful and kind of be on your best behavior. And that is good advice when getting into acting in general. To know exactly what you have to do and don’t really overcomplicate it. There's only so much you can control about a workplace in a situation, and your job is to contribute as a team member. And I am glad that I gained that mentality because I did it when I was very young.”  

Now recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 30 stars under 30, Matarazzo continues to impress audiences with Broadway roles in “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Parade,” as well as voice performances in the Disney+ animated series, “LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” and its four-part sequel, “Pieces of the Past,” both released in 2024. Currently, Matarazzo is promoting the last season of “Stranger Things,” with the show’s final episode scheduled for release on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025. 

“I love Season 5 so much, and I want to dive into why, but I can't quite because only part [has been released]. This is fun because this is the only speaking engagement I’m doing where it’s smack dab between the releases…so, I know something you don’t,” Matarazzo said playfully drawing laughs from the crowd. “Five has a special place because it’s the biggest one and we had the hardest process of making it. It took a full year. 

“But I think the first season will always be my favorite, at least to work on and to watch, for me,” he added. “Because you kind of see what the creators were able to come up with, with their backs against the wall, and when they didn't have all the tools at their disposal…But looking back and being a part of other projects and especially later seasons where the environment was just different, there was something kind of electric about that first season that I still love so much.” 

Throughout the affable conversation, Matarazzo also revealed details about an onset prank, how he connects with the characters he plays, his thoughts on his costars and voice acting, growing up in New Jersey, and the professional guidance he’s received along the way.  

“I got a cool piece of advice from C. Thomas Howel,” Matarazzo said. “He was talking specifically about how when you're quite young and you start to work, sometimes you get caught up in a need to maintain a sense of relevance. And I remember him specifically saying, ‘You're going to do a lot of good things, you’re going to do a lot of very bad things, and there's going to be peaks and valleys. Enjoy the valleys for what they provide for you, whether it's peace of mind, privacy, and some quiet, or an opportunity to get better at a part of your craft.’ And I'm excited to jump into that next phase, as the show blows up now and inevitably dies down.” 

Beyond his acting career, Matarazzo is a passionate advocate for raising awareness about CCD, a condition that affects bone and dental development. Through his foundation, CCD Smiles, he helps families afford dental care and has spoken on Capitol Hill in support of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), a bipartisan bill promoting insurance coverage for individuals born with congenital conditions. 

“My parents were informed of what [CCD] was two days after my birth, but that's very rare,” he said. “There are a lot of people who are never diagnosed or who are diagnosed much later. There are lots of variables and varying degrees of severity…In a lot of cases that I've seen, everything's anecdotal because there isn't a baseline of treatment. There hasn't been an intense research project done on the condition. 

“But, after the show came out and a platform had been gained to talk about it, CCD Smiles kind of gained a good foothold, and we built a community around it,” he added. “Johns Hopkins University ended up working with us to start a research project, which is really, really exciting. That has never happened before. And that's the best thing you can ask for with getting a better understanding of a condition and how to how to treat it.” 

Matarazzo concluded that a good support system and humorous approach are “essential,” when navigating life’s “roadblocks and hiccups. That's the easiest way of going about it for me,” he said. “I've always enjoyed it, and I've never gotten to that point where I said, ‘Man, I wish I took that more seriously.’ I find life genuinely funny sometimes.” 

After the event, Matarazzo shared his sincere appreciation for the opportunity to address the campus community, especially FSC’s students, and said he would be “very honored” if event attendees took with them a sense of belonging and the importance of doing things “with heart and love.”  

"Gaten's visit was a true highlight for our campus community this semester,” said Rampello. “The success of this program once again demonstrated the Office of Student Affairs’ ongoing commitment to providing our students with the finest, most meaningful programming experiences.” 

Student Perspectives 

“I think the timing for this event is great, especially before finals,” said Samantha Russo, ’28, a nursing student. “It’s a great opportunity to hear Gaten’s story and how he’s dealt with challenges.” 

For Mackenzie Marquardt, ’28, a nursing student, the event was a positive opportunity to join a campus activity. “This is 1000% a community builder, and it’s a great way to meet new people,” she said.  

Halle Saladino, ’29, a science, technology and society major and self-professed “Stranger Things” fan admitted she “actually screamed” when she learned of Matarazzo’s visit.  

“It’s so cool, I knew I had to get myself here,” she said. “I love the show and like that I can’t predict what will happen next. I love the mystery, and it shows how much time they put into making the show. And especially with finals happening, talking about mental resilience is an important message.” 

“I loved it, I’m all smiles,” said Mable Philipose '24, a nursing program graduate who now works in a nursing informatics office as a registered nurse. “I’m so thankful I came today; it was inspiring. His message was very powerful. What he’s doing, he’s showing a lot of strength. And [Owens] asked really thought-provoking questions.” 

“My love for the show started in Season 3,” said Hilary Robles, ’27, an economics major. “And I love Gaten’s character, I feel like he’s the realist one on the show. When I saw this event posted on Instagram, I was speechless, honestly. And this is one of the biggest events I’ve ever been to in my time here at Farmingdale. It’s exciting.” 

View more photos from Finding Balance in the Upside Down: An Evening with Gaten Matarazzo on our Flickr Gallery. 

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