Black History: Science, Art, Politics Inspire New CEO Of Michigan Science Center

DETROIT (WWJ) - Dr. Tonya Matthews is a lover of all things in the science, technology, engineering and math worlds. She is also the new president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center.

Matthews studied bio-medical engineering from undergrad at Duke University through her doctorate work at Johns Hopkins.

She echos the thought that to whom much is given, much is expected.

"I am the product of an incredible succession plan that fully brought me into the museum field - when I moved to Cincinnati to become a vice president of a major institution. I am also the product of parents who knew how to sacrifice," she told WWJ's Stephanie Davis.

"Because of that, it's not as if there is a weight on my shoulders, there are just realizations."

Matthews also writes poetry and has found inspiration among one of the iconic political activists; author and poet Angela Davis.

"She didn't have the kind of background I associated with the movement, she was middle class, highly educated, spoke several languages and then she became this radical revolutionary, and it didn't teach me as much about revolution as it taught me about left turns so just because I'm an engineer, doesn't mean I can't write a poem," she said.

WWJ Newsradio 950 celebrates Black History Month by recognizing our local young African American professionals and their heroes. You can listen to these features at 6:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 3:40 p.m., 7:40 p.m.