PennWest California has named Alex Matthews the recipient of the 2022-2023 Jennie A. Carter Award.

Matthews, a 1983 graduate of Cal, was honored at the annual awards ceremony March 31 in the Natali Performance Center.

The award is named in memory of Elizabeth “Jennie” Adams Carter, Class of 1881, the first African American graduate at then-South Western Normal College.

Matthews has served as a dedicated advocate for education in the political sphere for most of his professional career, serving as an elected member of the Pittsburgh Board of Education for the last 12 years.

During his tenure on the board, he served as president for three years and held other leadership roles. He was the first person from Pittsburgh Public Schools elected president of the Pennsylvania School Board Association. Matthews has also served on various state and national education committees.

Matthews is employed with Highmark Health as a senior community affairs analyst, serving the community by reviewing, analyzing and making recommendations on sponsorship and grant requests. He works with local community organizations to assist with proposals and provide guidance on developing successful outcomes for their programs.

Matthews lives by the motto “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” He exemplifies the Jennie A. Carter Award’s focus on community outreach and dedication to the continued growth of both the community at Cal and at large.

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