Tonya Matthews

Matthews 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]

Matthews 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.^[1][13][12] The program has a database of local women working in STEM who act as mentors and role models to girls.^[14] She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Central Michigan University in 2016.^[15] She was also recognised as being one of the top 100 men and women in Michigan by the Michigan Chronicle.^[16]

In 2019, she joined Wayne State University as Associate Provost for Inclusive Workforce Development.^[2]

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][17] She also serves on the Board of Science Education at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.^[18] 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.^[19] Matthews is also a spoken soul artist, having published and performed poetry notable for its social commentary.^[20][21] She delivered a TEDx talk in Cincinnati: Sound Ideas.^[20]