Matthew Brown ’16 Receives Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree at Commencement 2026

As the guiding force behind the Matt Brown Foundation, you have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to support individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries. Beyond providing vital financial resources, you offer light and hope to those you serve. Your innate sense of compassion has helped transform the lives of so many people. 

As a marathon athlete who has competed in more than a dozen races, you have demonstrated an enduring commitment to pushing beyond perceived boundaries. Your continued participation in sports exemplifies the value of resilience by redefining what can be achieved in the face of adversity.  

Through speaking engagements and your book Line Change, you have shared your story in the hopes of empowering others to navigate personal and physical challenges with courage and dignity. You have encouraged audiences to lead lives of impact and embrace their purpose, even as they contend with unexpected obstacles.  

As a Stonehill alumnus, you inspired the College’s Matt Brown ’16 Perseverance Scholarship. Established by your peers from the Class of 2016, this fund provides students with the support they need to achieve their academic and co-curricular goals. It also reflects the deep admiration that your classmates and the broader Stonehill community hold for you.  

Your legacy at Stonehill has left a lasting imprint on this campus, serving as a model of service and tenacity for students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends of the College alike.  

In recognition of your advocacy and the spirit of determination with which you approach your life and work, Stonehill College is proud to bestow upon you, Matthew Brown, honoris causa, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.