“To solve the world’s most complex social problems, we must begin with kindness.”
                         - Matea

Matea is a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina and relocated to the United States in the late 90s as a refugee of the regional civil war. Her experience as a child refugee shapes her worldview and her fierce passion for inclusion and equity. Matea brings over fourteen years of experience within higher education throughout major functions such as Human Resources management, supervision, best practices for adult learning, governance, strategic planning and project management. She has a demonstrated record of creating inclusive and equitable policies and practices within workplaces, processes and programs. Her research interests lie in examining organizations, transformative leadership practices and structural implementation through an equity lens.

 

Matea earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Advertising and a Master of Education degree in College Student Affairs Leadership from Grand Valley State University. She is currently a Doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program in the College of Education at Michigan State University.

 

Matea is currently the Chair-Elect for the NASPA Center for Women, a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s (LRCC) DEI Committee, a Board member for Communities in Schools - Michigan, and an appointed member of the Ingham County Racial Equity Task Force. She is a recent recipient of the 10 over the Next Ten award from the LRCC, highlighting community change agents who are projected to contribute profoundly to the region over the next ten years. She was recognized by the Lansing Convention and Visitor's Bureau as a Community Champion in 2018. Matea believes that a safe environment for all to thrive is the foundation to furthering education, ideas, and big thinking. She strives to create inclusive communities, free of harm and violence where individuals can be their authentic selves. Matea has dedicated her career in lending a voice to cultivate equitable practices and create opportunity for access.