Gettysburg Connection regularly presents its Outstanding Community Contributor award to community members who have who made outstanding contributions to the people of Adams County. Click here to see all the awardees. Please contact us if you know someone deserving of this award.

Karl Mattson Wins the Gettysburg Connection Community Contributor Award

Karl Mattson, a lifelong advocate for social justice, community engagement, and transformative education, has been honored with the Gettysburg Connection Community Contributor Award. A figure whose legacy intertwines faith, activism, and a profound commitment to inclusivity, Mattson’s contributions have left an indelible mark on Gettysburg College and beyond.

A Chaplain of Change

Hired as the college chaplain in the late 1980s, Mattson’s arrival marked the beginning of a profound shift in how students engaged with the world around them. Guided by his Lutheran faith, Mattson saw service and social justice as inseparable from spiritual growth.

karl mattson

“Karl believed you couldn’t be a good Christian without the social justice part. This is primary,” said Julie Ramsey, former Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students at Gettysburg College.

Ramsey recalled Mattson’s work in organizing student trips to study the Civil Rights Movement in the South, to visit Native American reservations, and to engage with homeless shelters in Washington DC. “Students went to live with the poorest people,” she said, emphasizing how these experiences fundamentally altered their perspectives. “He was on the cutting edge of social justice work before anyone else was doing it.”

Founding the Center for Public Service

One of Mattson’s lasting contributions was the establishment of the Center for Public Service (CPS) at Gettysburg College. As its first director, Mattson empowered students to take leadership roles in developing initiatives that bridged the gap between the college and the surrounding community.

“He let the students take an extraordinary level of responsibility and creativity in making the center,” Ramsey noted. Under Mattson’s guidance, CPS facilitated programs for the county’s migrant population, including tutoring, swimming lessons, and delivering meals from the campus kitchen.

“Karl has been invested in social justice concerns for the underserved in the community,” Ramsey added. “Through CPS, he’s helped hundreds of students work in the community. Today, 75% of Gettysburg College students engage in some form of community service during their undergraduate career.”

A Global Vision: Project Gettysburg-León

Mattson’s passion for fostering global citizenship found expression in his pivotal role in establishing Project Gettysburg-León (PGL). Founded in 1985 after Mattson and his wife Marge traveled to Nicaragua, the initiative has supported communities in and around León for nearly four decades.

Dave Crowner, emeritus professor at Gettysburg College, reflected on Mattson’s enduring impact. “One example is that recently Karl held a fundraising garden party for PGL in his beautiful backyard, raising significant funds. PGL is an amazing tribute to Karl,” Crowner said.

Mattson’s global perspective extended back to 1983, when he encouraged a recent graduate to embark on an exploratory trip to Nicaragua using travel funds from the Stephen Warner endowment. “His actions reflect a religious faith that reaches out in the spirit of love,” Crowner said. “His faith leads toward peace and justice, responding to the needs of others.”

A Passionate and Compassionate Presence

Beyond his institutional achievements, Mattson’s personal qualities have endeared him to countless colleagues, students, and community members. Ramsey described him as “a very passionate and compassionate person, a humble guy with a wonderful sense of humor.”

Crowner echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Mattson’s family life. “We should recognize and honor him for being a wonderful, loving husband of Marge and father of three outstanding daughters. Despite living across the country, his daughters remain deeply connected, regularly spending time with Karl and assisting him at home.”

Mattson’s humility and focus on others are hallmarks of his character. “What has made Karl so successful in his various roles in life is how he focuses not on himself but on the other person. This brings him to find ways to assist others, whether locally or internationally,” said Crowner.

The Garden as a Gathering Place

One of Mattson’s most cherished personal projects is his extraordinary garden. Ramsey marveled at the care and effort he has poured into it, noting that it’s not just a place of beauty but a space for community.

“He uses his garden as a way to bring people together,” she said. Whether hosting fundraisers for PGL or simply sharing its tranquility with friends and neighbors, the garden exemplifies Mattson’s philosophy of connection and generosity.

Early Life and Formative Years

Born on May 8, 1934, in Montclair, New Jersey, Karl Mattson grew up in a household steeped in Swedish Lutheran tradition. His father, a campus pastor and philosophy professor, instilled in him a love of learning and a deep sense of gratitude.

Mattson’s early years were shaped by the cultural diversity of his New Haven neighborhood and the sobering realities of World War II. These experiences, combined with his intellectual curiosity and passion for social justice, laid the foundation for a life dedicated to service.

After graduating from Augustana College in 1955, Mattson pursued theological studies and embarked on a career in pastoral work. His ministry took him to diverse communities, from Buffalo, New York, to Brooklyn, where he and Marge lived in a predominantly Puerto Rican and African American neighborhood. These early experiences deepened Mattson’s commitment to addressing systemic inequalities and fostering understanding across cultural divides.

Legacy of Service and Inspiration

At Gettysburg College, Mattson’s tenure was marked by transformative initiatives that continue to shape the institution’s culture of engagement. From Wednesday evening communion services that fostered intimacy among students to inclusive programs that addressed the needs of marginalized groups, Mattson’s work exemplified his core belief: “Carrying students out into the world to encounter realities they would not otherwise encounter—that’s always been my interest.”

Photo credit: Dan Bigelow

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Angela Sontheimer
Angela Sontheimer
19 days ago

A well deserved honor for an amazing man. Karl’s social activism work continues to inspire and serve as an example for many of us. Congratulations Karl!

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