MIAD Trustee Emerita Kim Mathews passes away

Kim Mathews
Longtime MIAD Trustee and Trustee Emerita Kim Mathews passed away Jan. 13, 2022. Her children include MIAD Trustee Amanda Singh.
Kim’s generosity of spirit was matched by her curiosity and kindness toward each individual she met. Among Kim’s passions were MIAD scholarships, and the belief that all students deserved the opportunity to fully develop, and excel at, their creative talents and professional paths. She established MIAD’s Peter L. Borisch Scholarship and supported Housing Scholarships, among many other initiatives.
Kim also loved to work with MIAD staff and Trustees, from providing creative ideas for MIAD events to spending hours helping with any task needing completion. Her jubilant love of life and all things MIAD was infectious.
Kim’s legacy lives on through her generosity to MIAD and the Milwaukee community. You can read her full obituary here.
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