Tonya Matthews is an American biomedical engineer and administrator who serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.
Tonya Matthews | |
|---|---|
 Matthews speaks for the National Assessment Governing Board in 2017 | |
| Alma mater | Duke University Johns Hopkins University |
| Occupation | Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development |
| Employer | Wayne State University |
She previously served as the CEO and President of Michigan Science Center, where in 2016, she helped launch the STEMinista Project to engage middle school girls about science.[1] Matthews was also the Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development at Wayne State University.[2]
Early life and education
editMatthews enjoyed museums as a child.[3] She studied biomedical engineering at Duke University, which she graduated in 1996.[4] During her degree she completed a course in African American studies.[5] She completed her graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, earning a PhD in 2006.[6] She worked on the DNA of inner ear hair cells.[7] During her graduate studies she worked at the Maryland Science Center.[4]
Research and career
editMatthews joined Maryland Science Center, where she created an urban lab in schools program.[8] She worked at the Food and Drug Administration in the division of restorative and neurological devices.[5] After the FDA, Matthews was appointed Vice President of Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, where she directed research and education.[5] Here she launched the Girls in Real Life Sciences (GIRLS) program.[9][10] In 2008 she was listed in the Business Courier as one of the top Forty Under 40.[11]
She joined Michigan Science Center as President and CEO in 2013.[5] Under her leadership, Michigan Science Center serves 300,000 children.[12] They launched the STEMinista Project in 2016, which looks to excite middle school girls about science.[13][14][12] The program has a database of local women working in STEM who act as mentors and role models to girls.[15] She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Central Michigan University in 2016.[16] She was also recognised as being one of the top 100 men and women in Michigan by the Michigan Chronicle.[17]
In 2019, she joined Wayne State University as Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development.[18]
She was appointed by the United States Secretary of Education to serve on the Governing Board of the National Assessment of Educational Progress.[9][12][19] She also serves on the Board of Science Education at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.[20] She received the Whitaker Foundation Award for Engineering Excellence.[5] She works closely with the Wayne County Community College District and University of Detroit Mercy.[21] Matthews is also a spoken soul artist, having published and performed poetry notable for its social commentary.[22][23] She delivered a TEDx talk in Cincinnati: Sound Ideas.[24]
References
edit- ^ Detroit Public TV (2016-03-08), Dr. Tonya Matthews | Michigan Science Center STEMinista Project, retrieved 2018-05-17
- ^ "Tonya Matthews joins Wayne State as associate provost". 15 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ "Dr. Tonya Matthews, President and CEO of the Michigan Science Center in Detroit - Metro Parent". Metro Parent. 2015-01-08. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ a b "Tonya Matthews - Most Influential Women 2016". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ a b c d e Center, Michigan Science. "Michigan Science Center Hires President and CEO". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Curator of tomorrow's talent". The Hub. 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "A light bulb moment | Ford Better World". www.fordbetterworld.org. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Role Model Profile". Fab Fems. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ a b "Board Members:Tonya Matthews". NAGB. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Cincinnati Museum Center launches new STEM program to excite and engage girls about science | Cincinnati Museum Center". www.cincymuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Courier Announces Forty Under 40 Class of 2008 - The Matrix Companies". The Matrix Companies. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ a b c "Rotary Meeting". www.detroitrotary.org. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ Detroit Public TV (2016-03-08), Dr. Tonya Matthews | Michigan Science Center STEMinista Project, retrieved 2018-05-17
- ^ MITechNews.Com (2017-03-20), Tonya Matthews Celebrates STEMinistas, retrieved 2018-05-17
- ^ "Black History Month: Science Center head targets girls". Detroit News. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "CMU names December commencement speakers | Central Michigan University". www.cmich.edu. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Announcing the 2016 Men and Women of Excellence honorees". The Michigan Chronicle. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "Tonya Matthews joins Wayne State as associate provost". 15 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- ^ Michigan Science Center (2017-02-27), Dr. Tonya Matthews: Inspiring Girls to Pursue STEM (NAGB), retrieved 2018-05-17
- ^ "BOSE Membership". sites.nationalacademies.org. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ WCCCD STEM (2016-08-03), WCCCD STEM Symposium featuring Dr. Tonya Matthews, retrieved 2018-05-17
- ^ TEDx Talks (2013-11-13), Spoken-soul poetry: Tonya M. Matthews at TEDxCincinnati, retrieved 2018-05-17
- ^ "Role Model Profile". Fab Fems. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ TEDx Talks (2013-11-13), Spoken-soul poetry: Tonya M. Matthews at TEDxCincinnati, retrieved 2018-05-17