The Danny Mathews Memorial Scholarship is being established to honor the memory and legacy of Danny Mathews.
Mathews, a former specialist in the Dean of Students Office at Illinois State University, passed away in March 2024. Mathews was a graduate assistant at Illinois State University from 2011-13 and a specialist for advising and leadership development in the Dean of Students from 2014-16. He studied English and Women’s and Gender Studies and completed his master’s degree at Illinois State in 2013 in college student personnel administration (CSPA).
Mathews’ legacy is defined by his profound impact on those he worked with, both personally and professionally. He was a beloved mentor.
Mathews left ISU to pursue a career at the University of Illinois Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations as assistant director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center. After working at the University of Illinois, Danny moved to Heartland Community College as the director of student engagement.
Brittney Vietti, a graduate assistant in the CSPA program from 2013-15 and now an academic advisor in the Politics and Government Department, worked closely with Mathews.
“When he talked to you, he truly embodied you, making eye contact and engaging with non-verbal behavior,” Vietti said. “He was someone you could talk to about anything—stress, deep conversations, any topic under the sun.”
Coming from a small town, Vietti found that Mathews opened her eyes to new perspectives, fostering cognitive and personal development without judgment. Her fondest memories include late-night conversations, comforting hugs, and his famous cookies.
In the Dean of Students Office, Mathews advised student organizations including the Black Student Union, Pride, Asian Pacific American Coalition, Tribe, and the Association of Latin American Students, supporting countless students.
Mathews’ former supervisor and coordinator for diversity advocacy at Illinois State University for 10 years, Angela Allen said, “I can confidently say he had an unmatched passion and drive for serving students. Higher education was his calling, and he dedicated himself to social justice and equity. He was committed to bringing people together and creating a safe space where everyone could be heard.”
The Redbird community is raising support to honor the memory and legacy of Mathews. Consider a gift to the Multicultural Center Enhancement Fund, which will be used to help launch the Danny Matthews Memorial Scholarship.
The goal of the Danny Mathews Memorial scholarship is to recognize students seeking to make transformative change on campus or in the community for LGBTQIA+ people through civic engagement and social justice work. Make a gift directly online through the Illinois State crowdfunding site.
For questions about how to the Danny Mathews Memorial Scholarship, please contact the Office of Annual Giving at (309) 438-4483 or AnnualGiving@IllinoisState.edu.
