Dr. Hewitt W. ‘Ted’ Matthews: 1944-2025
Dr. Hewitt W. “Ted” Matthews, former senior vice president for health sciences and longtime dean of Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy, passed away on Sept. 26. He was 80.
Before retiring in 2017, Dr. Matthews served as dean of the College of Pharmacy for 27 years, a tenure equaling that of Dr. Oliver Littlejohn, one of the College’s earliest leaders. His steady leadership and vision guided the College through decades of growth and change. Dr. Matthews also made history as Mercer’s first Black dean of any college or school, a milestone that is a testament to his pioneering spirit and enduring influence on the University’s legacy.
“Ted Matthews was among Mercer’s finest deans. The College of Pharmacy became a national leader in research and academic excellence during his lengthy tenure as our dean,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood. “Ted was also a fine and authentic human being. He was a great blessing to the Mercer community. We miss him.”
Born on Dec. 1, 1944, Dr. Matthews began his long association with Mercer as a student. After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Clark Atlanta University in 1966, he enrolled in Mercer’s Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy. He went on to earn both his M.S. (1971) and Ph.D. (1973) in pharmaceutical biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he was a National Institutes of Health Pre-Doctoral Fellow and an American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Fellow.
Dr. Matthews joined the faculty of Mercer College of Pharmacy in 1973. Known for his passion for teaching and mentorship, he earned Mercer’s Outstanding Teacher Award early in his career. Over the next decade, he held several academic and administrative positions, including associate dean of the College of Pharmacy and assistant provost of the University. After serving as interim dean, he was appointed dean of the College of Pharmacy in 1990. Dr. Matthews received numerous honors from state and national pharmacy organizations and inspired generations of students and alumni through his leadership and example.
“Ted Matthews made such a tremendous impact during his more than 40 years of service at Mercer, not only on the College of Pharmacy, but throughout the University. From receiving the Outstanding Teacher Award as a faculty member, to leading the College of Pharmacy as dean through unprecedented growth, to serving as senior vice president of health sciences, Dean Matthews was integral to Mercer during his decades at the University,” said Dr. Penny L. Elkins, executive vice president and interim provost. “He was revered as a teacher, a leader, a mentor, a friend and a formidable presence to many throughout the University community. We are grateful to have been blessed with his many contributions to Mercer for so many years, and we, along with his family and friends, mourn the loss of this great, kind and gentle soul.”
Dr. Matthews played a central role in the establishment of the Mercer Health Sciences Center and was named senior vice president for health sciences in 2012, while continuing to serve as dean. He was the founding chair of the National Pharmaceutical Association Foundation, a role that reflected his deep commitment to advancing the profession and supporting the development of minority pharmacists across the country. He also contributed to the creation of Mercer’s first Ph.D. program and, as a faculty member, helped secure the College of Pharmacy’s first research grant.
“Dean Matthews hired me in 2007 and believed in me from the start. He was a present and caring leader. You’d mention something once, and he’d remember it the next time he saw you,” said interim Dean Pamela Moye. “His kindness and support inspired everyone around him. As Maya Angelou said, ‘People will forget what you said but never how you made them feel,’ and he made us all feel valued and inspired. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
A viewing and visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Gus Thornhill Funeral Home in East Point. The homegoing celebration will take place at 11 a.m. Oct. 17 at Fellowship of Faith International Church in East Point. The service will be livestreamed. In place of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hewitt W. “Ted” Matthews Endowed Scholarship.
