Matilda Matters

Oakland University students are stepping into the world of its trailblazing founder this fall, thanks to a new course in the Honors College led by Randall Engle, Ph.D., director of the Christianity studies program and 2025 recipient of the university’s Teaching Excellence Award.

“It’s called Matilda Matters, and I hope people get the double entendre of that name,” says Engle. “Without Matilda, we wouldn’t have Oakland University, the gorgeous 1,441-acre campus and all the privileges that are ours because of her vision, generosity and philanthropy.”

The course is a deep dive into the legacy of Matilda Dodge Wilson — businesswoman, philanthropist and Michigan’s first female lieutenant governor. 
Engle’s teaching approach centers on connecting students to the world beyond the classroom. Each week, they gather twice in the historic halls of Matilda Dodge Wilson’s home, Meadow Brook. One session is devoted to immersive storytelling and historical analysis, the other to hands-on experience. Students explore Dodge’s first automobile, examine original documents in the Meadow Brook archives and even visit Matilda’s mausoleum. “It’s about connecting with the legacy in a tactile way,” Engle explains.

That legacy is profound. Matilda lost two children and two husbands yet, remained a visionary. Late in life, when asked about her legacy, she didn’t hesitate: “My legacy will be the Harvard of the Midwest,” she often said, referring to the university she founded and the bold vision that guided her.

This course brings her dreams, triumphs and tragedies to life — bridging industrial America, the Roaring Twenties and OU’s founding in one sweeping narrative.
The class also tentatively plans to host Matilda’s granddaughter for a question-and-answer session on Matilda’s birthday, adding a living link to the past.

“I want students to walk away with gratitude for the campus, for higher education and for the woman who made it all possible,” says Engle.