Matusak Award
The Larraine Matusak Courageous Leadership Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward those individuals who boldly take a risk to stand up for what is right and just; who work for the common good; who are willing to take an unpopular stand even if doing so may jeopardize their jobs, cast them in an unpopular light or even cause them to lose friends. They are willing to act authentically and speak up when silence would mean colluding with the problem, and they boldly take actions that tangibly improve the human condition.
Why Award Courage
Dr. Matusak gave this award a great deal of thought. Too many individuals plan their lives and daily actions to fit the expectations of those around them. There is no doubt that they clearly distinguish right from wrong, but they plan to do only what they are absolutely certain will not ruffle any feathers! Every move is carefully and cautiously planned to avoid failure in the eyes of others at any cost. Needless to say, we have been frustrated observing the actions of so-called leaders in our communities, organizations and nationally. The “go along with the herd” mentality is alive and well!
The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward those individuals who boldly take a risk to stand up for what is right and just; who work for the common good; who are willing to take an unpopular stand even if doing so may jeopardize their jobs, cast them in an unpopular light or even cause them to lose friends. They are willing to act authentically and speak up when silence would mean colluding with the problem.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You must look fear in the face and do the thing you think you cannot do.” This award, the Matusak Courageous Leadership Award is a call to courage that requires a belief in something much larger than the individual; the type of courage fueled by a passion for the common good and a commitment to principles greater than self-interest; the kind of courage that once exhibited galvanizes others.
For more information about the award and the nomination process, please see our main site.
About Larraine Matusak:
Dr. Matusak was a Leadership Scholar and President of the consulting firm, LARCON ASSOCIATES. She has been a scholar and practitioner of leadership for many years in a wide variety of leadership roles. She has served as Program Officer in Education and Leadership and as the first Leadership Scholar at the W.K.Kellogg Foundation. Matusak designed and directed the Kellogg National Fellowship Program, a leadership development program for people in the early years of their career. She also led in the creation of the Leadership grant making area at the W.K.Kellogg Foundation and then served as the first administrator for the department.
Dr. Matusak was a Senior Scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership of the University of Maryland. She has also served as a graduate advisor and mentor for the Fielding Institute of Graduate Studies of Santa Barbara, California, and The Union of Graduate Schools in Ohio. She has served as a consultant and keynote speaker to many communities, organizations, businesses, academic institutions and foundations on topics of organizational design, leadership development, creativity and adult learning. The Blandin Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Lily Foundation, University of Denver, University of Maryland, Michigan State University, University of Georgia, Franklin College, Marietta College and the National League of Cities are just a few of the organizations included on the list.
Creativity and innovative approaches to problem solving and leadership have gained her recognition by educators, business leaders, nonprofit groups and community organizations. Dr. Matusak has been the president of Thomas A. Edison State College of New Jersey, and the dean and founder of the College of Alternative Programs at the University of Evansville, Indiana. She served on the original design team and directed the Alternative Baccalaureate Program at the University of Minnesota, and was a professor of Natural Sciences at that institution.
She has received numerous honors including the International Leadership Association Outstanding Leader Award in 2003, 1996 International Morris T. Keeton Award recognizing her contributions in adult learning and leadership. In 1974 she also received the Outstanding American Educator award from the Medical College of Augusta, Georgia and has been awarded several Honorary Doctorates.
She holds many professional appointments with regional and national education organizations. Dr. Matusak is a trustee of the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland; The ILA (International Leadership Association); Leadership Institute, Los Angeles, California; Dia-Logos-Institute for Generative Learning and Collaborative Social Change, Inc., Cambridge, Mass; BCACSF (Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools Foundation), The Humane Society of Battle Creek; Starr Commonwealth School, and is past president of the board of SAFE Place and the College of St. Benedict, Minnesota.
Dr. Matusak has authored numerous publications and articles in the field of nontraditional adult education and leadership. She has recently (1996) completed a book on leadership aimed at public consumption and focusing on citizen leadership. The title of the book is Finding Your Voice: Learning to Lead Anywhere You Want To Make A Difference; Jossey Bass Publishers. In 1998 she completed a Monograph entitled The First Ten Years of the Kellogg National Fellowship Program; In 1999 she co-edited with Barbara Kellerman, and contributed a chapter to Cutting Edge: Leadership 2000; University of Maryland Press. She is presently working on a book that addresses Philanthropic leadership.
Dr. Matusak received her bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the College of St. Benedict, a master’s degree in entomology from the University Minnesota, Minneapolis. Her doctorate in higher education administration was earned at Fielding Institute of Graduate Studies, Santa Barbara, California.