FC Faculty Inducted to International Educators’ Hall of Fame
Fullerton College faculty member Dr. Carol Mattson was inducted into the International Educators’ Hall of Fame. The 2016 23rd annual ceremony took place in the Grand Ballroom of The Phoenix Club in Anaheim, California . To be honored, an educator must be retired and/or have served at least 20 years in the field and accomplished more than the call of duty. Dr. Patricia Adelekan founded the 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization Youth on the Move, Inc. International Educator’s Hall of Fame. Her mission is to inspire youth and to honor outstanding educators. Today, there are more than 500 inductees from 20 countries.
Dr. Mattson said returning to college at the age of 30 was a major turning point in her life. She was inspired by her sisters, Velda and Sharon, who are also educators. Her wonderful counselor and supportive professors at Fullerton College and Chapman University continually encouraged her, and now it is her desire to do the same for every student she meets. She is currently counseling and teaching at Fullerton College and working with an intern from California State University, Fullerton, to develop a program for reentry students, age 24 years or older. She is also in the process of editing a collection of her mother’s poetry entitled The Minds Little Corner.
Other publications include a dissertation on Leadership Stress in California Community Colleges, a sabbatical report on Personal Qualities That Contribute To Career Success, author of Women in Bloom: Personal Stories of Women Who Returned to College and Other Words of Inspiration, and LinkedIn articles such as “Just Smile and Say Hello; A Rock or A Heart?”;” The Word Stress”; and “What Every California Community College Student Needs to Know.”
Dr. Mattson earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fullerton, CA and Master of Arts Degree in Counseling with a career emphasis from Chapman University. She is an alumna of Fullerton College and a California Native.
Her community involvement activities include prior service on the Fullerton College Foundation and the YWCA Boards, past Vice President of Education for Club 9 in Anaheim and earned the designation Competent Communicator and past President of North Orange County Community College District Management Association and serving as a judge for Miss Placentia Outstanding Teen. In collaboration with the YWCA she started facilitating Moxie, a group to empower women. (Moxie is a slang term for the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage).
At Fullerton College, beyond serving students, she is most proud of negotiating a contract to have Jack and Elaine LaLanne come to Fullerton College to speak and motivate faculty and inspire a holistic approach to professional development that included physical fitness. It was also an honor to serve as executive producer for Mendez vs. Westminster: Families for Equality, a 2010 film written and directed by Erica Bennett. Social science students participated as actors and families connected to the court case were interviewed. The film aired on PBS.
Her advice to youth today is “Get started and be confident. Learn as much as you can. Hang with people who contribute to your personal and professional growth. Be the best you can be. Don’t look back unless you are doing so to learn from past mistakes and never worry about things outside of your control”.
