A born humanitarian, Dr. Vera A. Matty is currently self-employed, devoting her time and attention to writing a book about creating happier lives, which she plans to publish in the near future. Previously, she worked as an advocacy and communications officer for the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process for two years. Even though her career has been filled with highlights, her most notable achievement was speaking before the United Nations regarding the attacks on September 11, 2001. Additionally, Dr. Matty has studied nine languages throughout her life.
Before her tenure with the United Nations, Dr. Matty gained valuable expertise in the field as the assistant to the president of the New York Unemployment Project, and as the vice president of Charles Rutenberg Realty between 2007 and 2011. During the earliest years of her career, she excelled as the executive assistant to the chief executive officer of BMG Entertainment from 1993 until 2002. Dedicated to her community, Dr. Matty contributes to those in need through her church as a volunteer.
Outside of her primary trade, Dr. Matty enjoys painting and people really like her work. A senator once commissioned her to create a large painting for the reception room for an Australian governor in the main house. The ambassadors from Los Angeles picked up the painting and mailed it. She also gave small paintings as gifts to a couple of senators. Dr. Matty wanted to do painting and she knew she would do well in Australia; they loved her work and they have one of her paintings in the New Zealand Embassy.
Prior to entering the field, Dr. Matty obtained a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts from Arizona State University, where she later returned to pursue a doctoral degree, all but dissertation. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was presented with a Painting Award from an International Exhibition in Europe in 1986, and Humanitarian Awards in 2003 and 2013. Looking toward the future, Dr. Matty hopes to accrue the Nobel Prize for her upcoming book.
Ms. Matty comes from a humanitarian family; her grandfather, Lazo Beslic, and father were, for two years, political prisoners as World War II ended. 13 years after her grandfather’s death, his home country awarded him a Humanitarian Award, which celebrated him for a whole day and named a major freeway after him. Ms. Matty inherited humanitarian work from her grandparents and her mother worked for the Red Cross as well. Her family has always helped people, which was always a part of her life. She attributes her success to her faith. She believes if you work hard and dedicate yourself, then you will make it. She attributes her success to her mother as well, who was fantastic. She told her, “First comes your health, then your education.”