Matusik is a distinguished scholar and educator whose professional expertise spans strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As an academic leader, she has a strong record of accomplishment in critical areas, including entrepreneurship and innovation; student success; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and community engagement.
A first-generation college student, Matusik earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics and English with honors from Colby College and a PhD in strategic management from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.
Matusik initially had a successful career in consulting, before moving into academics. She held academic appointments at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, and served as dean of the Leeds School from 2017-2022.
At the Leeds School, Matusik served in a number of leadership roles, including academic director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and senior associate dean for faculty and research. As dean of Leeds, she launched critical initiatives, including an innovative partnership between Leeds and the College of Engineering and Applied Science; the End the Gap Initiative, aimed at achieving gender parity; and Career Impact, designed to align the student experience with skills needed for long-term career success. Her term as Leeds dean saw substantial increases in student achievement, faculty diversity, fundraising, and community engagement. At Michigan Ross, she is focused on key initiatives related to financial accessibility, global visibility and impact, cross-disciplinary partnerships, and transformational research and educational experiences.
Her research, frequently cited in top journals, focuses on strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge assets. She has received multiple awards for research, teaching, and service and also serves on non-profit boards, including her current appointment as Board chair of the William Davidson Institute.