PRESIDENT OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, RON BURTON & ANNE L. MATTHEWS
ACHIEVE
Service Above Self Alumna Anne L. Matthews appointed first female vice president of Rotary International
Anne L. Matthews didn’t set out to become a trailblazer or a role model. She just wanted to devote her life to helping others. As it turns out, she’s done both. An accomplished educator, published author, and public speaker, Matthews was recently appointed to serve as the vice president of Rotary International for the 2013-14 year—the first woman elected to the position. Founded in 1905, Rotary International is a humanitarian organization devoted to both community and international service. Operating under the motto "Service Above Self," Rotary is perhaps best known for its contributions to the fight against polio. Since 1985, Rotary's PolioPlus program has worked through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to help immunize more than two billion children in 125 countries—reducing the number of polio cases by 99 percent. "Rotary is the greatest service organization in the world, and I believe that my purpose in life is to serve others," Matthews says. Since becoming a Rotarian in 1989 (the first year Rotary allowed women into the organization), Matthews has held several leadership positions within the organization. She is also the first woman to be elected to serve both as a trustee of The Rotary Foundation and as a director of Rotary International.
W W W. C O K E R . E D U
A native of Lake City, S.C., Matthews says growing up with five brothers helped her learn to work well with men. But above all, she credits her parents for her success. "The greatest influence in my life was my parents, who epitomized 'Service Above Self,’" she says. "They believed in me, encouraged me and supported me." After earning her baccalaureate degree from Coker College, Matthews went on to earn a master’s in business from Appalachian State University and a doctorate from the University of South Carolina. She has served on a number of boards of business, education, economic and civic organizations, including the board of the American Cancer Society. A member of Leadership South Carolina, Matthews has received two appointments from President Ronald Reagan. She has also been honored by the YWCA, the Girl Scouts of America, received the key to Lake City, S.C., and was inducted into the Hall of Fame from Florence County School District 3. But throughout her many service endeavors, Matthews has always placed a particular focus on education. A former director with the South Carolina State Department of Education, she is also president of Matthews and Associates, an educational consulting firm based in Columbia, S.C. "I don’t think anything is more important than getting a good education," she says. "I say this everywhere I go: Education is the first step to preventing or eliminating most of the world’s problems." Unsurprisingly, Matthews highly values her own education and the opportunities it has pro-
vided her. "I received a well-rounded liberal arts education at Coker, which I believe is the foundation for success in life," she says. Among her many honors, Matthews received the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Coker College in 1987 and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Coker College in 1988. She also served on the Board of Trustees of Coker College from 1980 through 1985 and again from 2003 through 2008. Now, Matthews will turn her focus to her new role as vice president. Her responsibilities will include working with the board to make policy decisions, traveling across the world to speak and visit Rotary programs, and collaborating closely with the organization’s president. "First and foremost, I consider serving as vice president an honor," she says. "Whether the job is done by a male or female is immaterial; what is important is that the individual who serves is effective in the role." But with that said, Matthews is grateful to the female leaders who came before her, and hopeful that her appointment will serve as encouragement to those who will follow her. "Women have contributed significantly to Rotary initiatives and will continue to do so," she says. "They will now know they have the opportunity to serve in higher roles in our organization." For those women, and anyone else hoping to succeed in business and in life, Matthews offers this advice: "Dream big and reach as high as you can. Because if you believe in yourself and you prepare yourself, the opportunities are unlimited."
T HE OFFICIA L M AG A ZINE OF COKER COL L EG E, H A RT S V IL L E, S .C .
C O M M E N TA RY
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