South Carolina S 313: Dr. Tonya Matthews Black Excellence Award

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 313 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 04, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 313

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A senate RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor black excellence award 
recipient Dr. Tonya M. Matthews.

Whereas, it is with 
great pleasure that the South Carolina Senate congratulates Dr. Tonya Matthews for 
receiving the Black Excellence Award, to be presented on Sunday, February 9, 
2025, at the Black Excellence Brunch Charleston Edition; and

Whereas, a native of 
Washington, D.C., she received her BSE in biomedical and electrical engineering 
from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins 
University, in addition to earning a certificate in African/African American studies. 
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, 
Incorporated; and

Whereas, Dr. Matthews 
brings her "pre-K through gray" philosophy of education alongside a deep 
respect for lifelong learning and radical empathy skill building to every 
appointment; and

Whereas, a nonprofit 
executive veteran, Dr. Matthews currently serves as president and chief executive 
officer of the International African American Museum located in Charleston at 
the historically sacred site of Gadsden's Wharf. Under her leadership, the 
museum has become a champion of authentic, empathetic storytelling of African 
American history; and

Whereas, Dr. Matthews 
is a thought-leader in institutional equity and inclusion frameworks, social entrepreneurship, 
and the intersectionality of formal and informal education. Her background as 
both poet and engineer has made her a highly sought after visioning partner on 
boards and community-building projects, as well as a frequent public speaker 
and presenter for communities across all ages and venues; and

Whereas, Dr. Matthews' storied 
career includes her role as associate provost for inclusive workforce development 
and director of the STEM Innovation Learning Center at Wayne State University and, 
prior to that, as the president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center. She is 
the founder of the STEMinista Project, a movement to engage girls in their 
future with STEM careers and tools and STEMinista Rising, which supports 
professional women in STEM fields and the colleagues who champion them; and

Whereas, her dedication 
to community and accomplishments is widely recognized. She has twice been 
noted as one of "Charleston's Most Influential" by Charleston Business Magazine 
and honored as "Trailblazer" by Career Mastered Magazine. She leads by 
example, inspires others, and paves the way for progress, often in areas where 
there has been little or none; and

Whereas, she is a 
former member of the National Academy of Sciences board on science education 
and was appointed by both Democratic and Republican administrations to the 
National Assessment Governing Board; and

Whereas, Dr. Matthews 
has authored several articles and book chapters on inclusive board governance, 
nonprofit management, and fundraising. A published poet, she is included in 100 
Best African American Poems (2010) edited by Nikki Giovanni, and has been awarded 
an honorary doctorate from Central Michigan University for her career 
achievements and contributions; and

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate Dr. Matthews' outstanding 
leadership and the positive changes she has made in each community where she 
has settled. She is known for planting roots on the side of town best suited for 
keeping an eye on progress. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor 
Black Excellence Award recipient Dr. Tonya M. Matthews.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Dr. Tonya M. Matthews.

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This web page was last updated on February 04, 2025 at 12:56 PM