Erin Matson — UNC Hussman alumna, icon of hard work, leadership and success — to deliver the school’s 2024 commencement address

UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media alumna Erin Matson ’22 — considered the Michael Jordan of field hockey — will present the commencement address to the school’s graduating students on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 3 p.m. in Carmichael Arena.

“Erin Matson exemplifies so many of the qualities we strive to foster in our students and graduates,” said Raul Reis, UNC Hussman dean and John T. Kerr Distinguished Professor. “She proves the theory that talent and hard work combined with an excellent education and mentorship is a powerful combination that produces leaders who are capable of accomplishing almost anything they desire.”

Matson, an exemplary student-athlete recognized four times as an All-ACC Academic Team selection along with her distinction as a four-time field hockey national champion as a player, led the UNC field hockey team to a national championship in 2023 in her first year as head coach.

She has been featured in stories on influential media platforms that include The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, CNN, ABC, NBC, Yahoo, USA Today, PBS, The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and countless other publications.

“I’m so excited to be with our UNC Hussman graduates and their families for such an important moment and celebration of their achievements,” said Matson. “Our Carolina graduates beautifully carry on our university’s legacy year after year, and I’m honored that Dean Reis is giving me the opportunity to hopefully motivate and inspire a group that is going to take the world by storm. Go Heels!”

In addition to the four national championships as a player, Matson played on five ACC championship teams. She is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey, becoming just the second player ever – following the head coach Karen Shelton for whom she played – to win that honor three times.

A longtime member of the U.S. field hockey national team, Matson has extensive international experience in countries including in Chile, India, England, South Africa and New Zealand.

While balancing collegiate play, international play and her studies at UNC Hussman, she became an entrepreneur, founding the “One” brand that puts on summer clinics for youth and markets gear bearing her personal brand.

Matson finished her career as the all-time scoring leader in both ACC history and NCAA Tournament play. In 2021, she was named by the ACC Network as one of the top 10 female athletes in conference history. A five-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year and the only student-athlete in any sport to earn ACC Player of the Year recognition five times, Matson started for three of the five undefeated teams in program history.