Greg Mathis is from Gainesville, GA, often recognized as the Poultry Capitol of the World. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from North Georgia College. He then worked for the United States Department of Agriculture.

He later enrolled at the University of Georgia and earned his Masters and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the Poultry Science Department.

His doctoral work centered on control of coccidiosis, specializing in epidemiology, anticoccidial drugs, and genetics. After receiving his Ph.D. he started Southern Poultry Research, Inc. a private contract poultry research company.

He was awarded the Hubbard Farm Graduate Scholarship, The E. E. Byrd Award; Southeastern Society of Parasitology, the US Poultry and Egg Distinguished Poultry Career award, the National Chicken Council Research award, and Poultry Science American Poultry Historical Society Award.