On Sept. 27, at the NAACP’s Annual Freedom Fund Dinner, the Stamford NAACP presented Eunice Matthews, professor of social work and coordinator of the Social Work Program at Eastern Connecticut State University, its prestigious Dr. Joyce Yearwood Humanitarian Award.

The award is given to an individual who is a premier advocate for fairness, justice and equality in the community in health care, employment, housing, education or voting rights. The award recognized Matthews for her work as a clinician providing mental health services for two decades to adults and adolescents in southern Connecticut. 

Several dignitaries were on hand, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who praised Matthews, saying, “Dr. Yearwood was a personal friend who I loved and greatlyrespected for her diligence in enhancing the lives of others. I thank you, Dr. Matthews, for the wonderful work you have done so effortlessly and continue to do in transforming the lives of so many people in Stamford and beyond.”

Matthews secured her first faculty appointment at Fordham University’s School of Social Services. She joined Eastern in 2000, and helped develop Eastern’s nationally recognized Social Work program. In 2001, she also began serving as a clinician at the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, and as a consultant for the Healthy Families New York in South Bronx, NY, where she served for 15 years.

Matthews continues to contribute to the intellectual discourse in her field, serving on the board of directors of the Southern Conference of African American Studies and the Council of Social Work Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Morgan State University; her master’s degree in Social Work at Columbia University; and her Ph.D. in Sociology at the City University of New York.