Thirty years ago, Gene Matthews completed his associate’s degree at Lorain Community College, while working as assistant director of facilities at Oberlin College. The Monday after his graduation, his boss gave him an ultimatum: complete his bachelor’s degree in the next two years or lose his job.
“If you ever want to sit in this chair—if you ever want to be director—you’ve got to have a bachelor’s degree to do that,” Matthews remembers his boss saying.
Matthews complied, finishing his bachelor’s degree in two years at Baldwin Wallace College on weekends. A few years later, he was sitting in that director’s chair at Oberlin. Soon after, he came to ϳԹ to fill the role of director of Facilities Services to build up a new program in sustainability.
Now, 17 years later, Matthews will retire from the university Aug. 1—but not without leaving a mark on the campus and the people he met over the years.
“When the opportunity came to come to [ϳԹ], I could start fresh at a new organization and spread my wings as a director and build an organization,” he said. “It was a perfect marriage.”
Matthews has played a key role in making sustainability a priority at the university, including his department’s work in converting to energy-saving light bulbs, participating in the erection of a wind turbine on campus, placing PV arrays—power systems that convert solar power into usable energy—on Adelbert Gym and the Tinkham Veale University Center, and contributing to the design of more efficient buildings like the Village at East 115th and the Tinkham Veale University Center.
But beyond his work in sustainability, Matthews sought to develop a department that placed a priority on empowerment and self-direction, giving his employees the ability to use their own judgment in the tasks they complete across campus.
“One of the things I feel most proud about as I’m leaving is I think that, together, we built an organization where our employees come to work every day and they use their own intelligence as adults,” he said, noting that he believes he’s built a department of responsible individuals who feel valued in the work they do for the university.
Matthews also has worked with countless students over the years, becoming a mentor for many. For many years, he worked with undergraduate students in the Summer Undergraduate Research in Energy and Sustainability (SURES) and Support of Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors (SOURCE) programs to conduct research in the department and help develop new sustainability initiatives. Matthews’ dedication to students earned him the J. Bruce Jackson, MD, Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring in 2012.
Matthews understands the role mentorship can have on a student’s growth, as he's been on the receiving end himself.
“Along my career, I had so many people that made a difference in my life because they taught me not necessarily technical stuff, but they taught me important life lessons and how important education is—and how to apply it,” he said.
Now, after 52 continuous years in the workforce, Matthews plans to spend his retirement learning to play new instruments, traveling, riding his bike and golfing—though he does admit he will miss his job.
“If I felt like I needed to work, I’d stay here,” he said. “This is the greatest job in the world, and I mean that.”
The university will have the chance to celebrate Matthews’ many achievements at his retirement party Thursday, June 18, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Tinkham Veale University ballrooms B and C.
Say farewell to Matthews at his retirement party—but first, read this week’s 5 questions.
