91ÑÇÉ«

History of GOLD

Dr. Tom Matthews was the Associate Dean of Leadership and Service and Founder of the GOLD Program at 91ÑÇÉ«. Tom grew up in Massena, New York, and earned a B.S. in Education from 91ÑÇÉ« Plattsburgh, an M.S. in Student Personnel from 91ÑÇÉ« Albany, and a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Student Personnel & Higher Education from the University of South Carolina. He interned at 91ÑÇÉ« Fredonia, worked two years at 91ÑÇÉ« Brockport, and came to 91ÑÇÉ« as Director of Student Activities in 1967.

Tom worked with student leaders to restructure the student government and to create a campus-wide programming board, which he advised for over 25 years. Tom developed a passion for the performing arts and particularly enjoyed bringing original touring Broadway shows such as A Chorus Line, Hair, and Godspell, and famous performers such as Bill Cosby, Vincent Price, William Windom, Red Skelton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Steve Martin, and Jay Leno to campus. He loves to tell stories about unknown but future stars such as Chuck Mangione, Chicago, Peter Gabriel, and Aerosmith, and about days spent hosting people like Abby Hoffman, Alex Haley, Jonathan Kozol, Hank Aaron, Helen Thomas, and Gerald Ford. He also fondly remembers presenting awards at national conferences to Harry Chapin, Alan Alda, and John Wayne. Tom helped create programs such as the Leisure Learning School, the summer conference program, Elderhostel, the 91ÑÇÉ« Summer Festival, and summer arts programs for high school students. Tom served two terms as President of the , as President of the 91ÑÇÉ« Arts Presenters, and as a founding member of the Livingston County Tourism Board. Tom was the first administrator at 91ÑÇÉ« to receive the 91ÑÇÉ« Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service in 1978.

Tom served as Chair of the National Association for Campus Activities and has been active in regional, state, and national leadership positions and has chaired numerous committees and presented papers and hundreds of program sessions throughout his career in organizations such as the , the , the , the , and the . He was also active in , representing over 20,000 91ÑÇÉ« employees as a local president, statewide treasurer, and vice president for professionals, and as the union’s chief negotiator for two rounds of bargaining with the State of New York.

In 2000, Tom developed the GOLD Leadership Certificate Program at 91ÑÇÉ«, which attracted thousands of 91ÑÇÉ« students and has been recognized nationally as a program of excellence and distinction by the  and the . Since 2005, Tom has spearheaded the creation of Livingston CARES, a collaborative organization comprising the college (students, faculty, and administrators) and numerous county and community agencies that provide disaster and humanitarian recovery assistance. Livingston CARES has sponsored more than 100 work trips involving over 1,000 volunteers to assist people in recovering from natural disasters. After his retirement in 2018, following a 50+ year career at 91ÑÇÉ«, Tom remains very active in the 91ÑÇÉ« community and serves as President of the Board of Directors of 

Tom says he credits his wife, Betsy, and sons, Jeff & David; dozens of coworkers; hundreds of colleagues; and thousands of students for making it possible for him to have so many wonderful experiences throughout his career at 91ÑÇÉ«.