Max Dawson

Maxwell "Max" Dawson is a contestant from.

Known as the "Survivor professor" in various circles of the fanbase, he was known for his over-enthusiasm and love for the game, as well as his friendship with Shirin Oskooi, both of which caused his elimination.

Profile
Name (Age): Max Dawson, Ph.D., 37

Tribe Designation: White Collar (Masaya)

Current Residence: Topanga, Calif.

Occupation: Media Consultant

Personal Claim to Fame: I taught a college class on Survivor at Northwestern University.

Inspiration in Life: My father, who has survived Vietnam, heart disease, cancer, botched surgeries, MRSA and more than 40 years of living with my mom and grandmother.

Hobbies: Going to the beach, swinging kettlebells and collecting vinyl records.

Pet Peeves: Waiting

3 Words to Describe You: Outspoken, brilliant and bearded.

If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why? 1. A black cat. No matter how rough things get, petting a black cat always makes me feel better. 2. A bunch of kale. Kale is the food of the gods. 3. A tin of beard wax. Just because I'm starving on an island doesn't mean I can't look fresh.

SURVIVOR Contestant You Are Most Like: Jonathan Penner. We are both opinionated, outspoken, truth-telling Jews who make our livings with our words. Like him, I love Survivor and all that it stands for. I believe that the game deserves to be honored by the individuals who are fortunate enough to play it.

Reason for Being on SURVIVOR: First and foremost, I am playing to win. That said, I'm also strongly motivated by the prospect of hearing Probst say, “All the fixins.”

Why You’ll “Survive” SURVIVOR: I’ll survive because of my laser-like focus, confidence, conviction and level-headedness. Oh, and did I mention that I taught a college class on Survivor?

Why Will You Be the Sole SURVIVOR: I am a natural salesperson, and the product I am best at selling is myself. I’ve aced every interview I’ve been in, received every job I’ve applied for and sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of research to major corporations. In recent years, I have consciously worked to hone my abilities to read, understand and influence others, learning and refining new techniques that I’ve employed to great effect in my career and personal life. I have no doubt whatsoever that I will enjoy an equal level of success in Survivor.

Survivor: Worlds Apart
Max arrived in the game on the Masaya tribe. When they lost the first Immunity Challenge, he went along with the majority in voting out So Kim. The Masaya tribe went on a winning streak all the way to the tribe switch, where he joined the Nagarote tribe. There, he formed a more closer relationship and alliance with Shirin Oskooi. However, their over strategizing and overall annoyance led to the tribe voting him out at the first tribal council.

Post-Survivor

 * In July 2015, in an interview Max gave his thoughts about how his former castmate Shirin Oskooi would do in.

Trivia

 * Max was almost cast for and.
 * Max was one of 32 contestants eligible to be selected to compete on  but was not chosen to be on the final cast.
 * On Max's twitter, he revealed he earned $7,000 for his 14 days on Survivor.
 * Max shares his birthday with Albert Destrade and Randy Bailey.