Tonya Matthews is an American biomedical engineer and administrator who serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the

International African American Museum The International African American Museum (IAAM) is a museum of African-American history in Charleston, South Carolina, located at a former shipping wharf where approximately 40% of the nation's enslaved persons disembarked. The museum opened Ju ...

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

. She previously served as the CEO and President of

Michigan Science Center The Michigan Science Center (MiSci) is a Smithsonian-affiliate science museum in Detroit, Michigan. The mission of the Michigan Science Center is to inspire curious minds of all ages to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology, engi ...

, where in 2016, she helped launch the STEMinista Project to engage middle school girls about science. Matthews was also the Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development at

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public university, public research university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 375 programs. It is Michigan's third-l ...

Early life and education

Matthews enjoyed museums as a child. She studied biomedical engineering at

Duke University Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...

, which she graduated in 1996. During her degree she completed a course in African American studies. She completed her graduate studies at

Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...

, earning a PhD in 2006. She worked on the

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

of inner ear hair cells. During her graduate studies she worked at the

Maryland Science Center The Maryland Science Center (MSC), located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, opened to the public in 1976. It includes three levels of exhibits, a planetarium, and an observatory. It was one of the original structures that drove the revitalization o ...

Research and career

Matthews joined Maryland Science Center, where she created an urban lab in schools program. She worked at the

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respo ...

in the division of restorative and neurological devices. After the

FDA The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food ...

, Matthews was appointed Vice President of

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal The Cincinnati Museum Center is a museum complex operating out of the Cincinnati Union Terminal in the Queensgate neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It houses museums, theater, a library, and a symphonic pipe organ, as well as special travelin ...

, where she directed research and education. Here she launched the Girls in Real Life Sciences (GIRLS) program. In 2008 she was listed in the '' Business Courier'' as one of the top Forty Under 40. She joined

as President and CEO in 2013. Under her leadership,

serves 300,000 children. They launched the STEMinista Project in 2016, which looks to excite middle school girls about science. The program has a database of local women working in STEM who act as mentors and role models to girls. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Public university, public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eigh ...

in 2016. She was also recognised as being one of the top 100 men and women in Michigan by the ''

Michigan Chronicle The ''Michigan Chronicle'' is a weekly African-American newspaper based in Detroit, Michigan. It was founded in 1936 by John H. Sengstacke, editor of the ''Chicago Defender''. Together with the ''Defender'' and a handful of other African-Ameri ...

''. In 2019, she joined

as Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development. She was appointed by the

United States Secretary of Education The United States secretary of education is the head of the United States Department of Education. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States, and the federal government, on policies, programs, and activi ...

to serve on the Governing Board of the

National Assessment of Educational Progress The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what U.S. students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is a congressionally mandated project administered by the ...

. She also serves on the Board of Science Education at the

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), also known as the National Academies, is a Congressional charter, congressionally chartered organization that serves as the collective scientific national academy of the Uni ...

. She received the Whitaker Foundation Award for Engineering Excellence. She works closely with the

Wayne County Community College District Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), commonly known as WC3, is a public community college district with its headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. It was founded in 1967 and has six campuses: Eastern, Downtown, Downriver, Northwest, Weste ...

and

University of Detroit Mercy The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 and is the largest Cath ...

. Matthews is also a spoken soul artist, having published and performed poetry notable for its social commentary. She delivered a

TEDx TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "Ideas Change Everything" (previously "Ideas Worth Sprea ...

talk in Cincinnati: Sound Ideas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Tonya American bioengineers Duke University Pratt School of Engineering alumni American women chief executives Women bioengineers Johns Hopkins University alumni 20th-century American scientists 20th-century American women scientists 21st-century American scientists 21st-century American women scientists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) American women museum directors