About Larraine Matusak
Larraine Matusak passed away on March 26, 2021 leaving an outstanding leadership legacy in higher education and philanthropy that has profoundly impacted people’s lives around the world. Larraine served in academic leadership roles from 1971 through 1982, including being only the second president of the Thomas A. Edison State College in Trenton, NJ from 1979-1982.
In 1982 she became a Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation where she directed the Kellogg National Fellowship Program and founded the Kellogg Leadership Scholars Program (KLSP). Larraine retired from the Kellogg Foundation in 1996 and authored her book “Finding your Voice” in 1997. She has been awarded too many Honorary Degrees and Leadership Awards to list – a truly amazing contribution to leadership around the world.
The Larraine R. Matusak Courageous Leadership Award
The Courageous Leadership Award was created in 2007 and is given biannually to recognize bold and courageous leadership in the face of social difficulty and injustice. In the words of Dr. Matusak . . .
The purpose of this award is to recognize and reward those individuals who boldly take a risk to stand up for what is right and just; who work for the common good; who are willing to take an unpopular stand even if doing so may jeopardize their jobs, cast them in an unpopular light or even cause them to lose friends. They are willing to act authentically and speak up when silence would mean colluding with the problem, and they boldly take actions that tangibly improve the human condition.
Courageous Leadership is defined as the ability and passion to attain positive results by encouraging others and by working with and through others to achieve a common good. True leaders are courageous people. They are not afraid to take a risk and they don’t waste much time worrying about what other people might think of them; they are more concerned about doing what is right and effective. They make every attempt to weave a shared vision, to align others toward a goal, and then with enthusiasm, energy, and commitment they are willing to walk near the edge and even do things that raise the eyebrows of those around them in order to achieve a positive goal that effects the common good…. to do what is right! Their risk taking is creative, reinforced by sound judgment, common sense and a profound sense of responsibility, honesty and truth.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You must look fear in the face and do the thing you think you cannot do.” This Courageous Leadership Award is a call to courage that requires a belief in something much larger than the individual; the type of courage fueled by a passion for the common good and a commitment to principles greater than self-interest; the kind of courage that once exhibited galvanizes others.
Below is information about previous winners of this important recognition.
The Alliance is pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Matusak Courageous Leadership Award! The 2024 Courageous Leadership Award was sponsored and presented by The Alliance of Leadership Fellows (ALF) in conjunction with the International Leadership Association (ILA) annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, United States in October 2024. ILA was also founded by Larraine Matusak. The 2024 winner is Dr. Niru Kumar.
Dr. Niru is a pioneer in the field of Diversity & Inclusion. As the founder of Ask Insights, a global DEI consulting firm, her impact spans the US, UK, Middle East, and Asia. For her tireless dedication, she was honored with the Padma Shri Award in 2021. This is the highest civilian Award in India given by the President. She has also been a National Icon and Advisory Board Member for the Election Commission of India. Learn more at https://askinsights.com.
Past Courageous Leadership Award Recipients