Tustin, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/17/2010 -- Gary W. Matkin, Ph.D., dean of continuing education, distance learning, and summer session at the University of California, Irvine, has been selected for OC Metro Magazine’s annual “Hot 25 Professionals in Orange County” list. Every year OC Metro Magazine publishes the “Hot 25” issue to pay tribute to a group of talented individuals who have exemplified excellence in their career and life. Dean Matkin was chosen for his 36-year career and significant accomplishments in university continuing education.

"I am thrilled to be in the company of such a talented list of individuals, especially in a competitive business and education-focused community like Orange County,” says Matkin. “This recognition is really a tribute to the dedicated people that work alongside me at UC Irvine Extension, Summer Session, and the UCI Distance Learning Center. Thank you OC Metro for this award and for its role in celebrating the wonderful people and organizations of Orange County.”

Serving as dean of continuing education at UC Irvine since March 1, 2000, Matkin leads UC Irvine’s University Extension, Summer Session, and the UCI Distance Learning Center. In addition, Matkin oversees the University Extension’s English language and international programs—serving more than 3,500 students each year.

A recognized pioneer of online education, Matkin initiated and guides the University’s OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative and helped develop the UC system’s first online degree program in Criminology, Law and Society. UC Irvine was the first University of California campus and first West Coast university to join the OpenCourseWare Consortium (OCWC). Under Matkin’s direction, the University has published more than 50 complete courses on its OCW Web site—allowing learners and educators throughout the world to access some of UC Irvine’s curriculum.

Most recently, Matkin was honored by his professional colleagues, receiving the Julius M. Nolte Award for Extraordinary Leadership, the highest honor from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association. Matkin also received the 2010 Excellence in Achievement Award from the Cal Alumni Association (CAA) at the University of California, Berkeley, an award given to select UC Berkeley alumni for their outstanding career, community and life accomplishments.

Prior to becoming UC Irvine’s dean of continuing education, Matkin was associate dean at UC Berkeley Extension, where he also was chief academic officer and responsible for the UC Berkeley Extension distance learning program, including its rapidly expanding online education initiative. He holds a doctorate in education and a master's degree in business administration from UC Berkeley. Matkin is a certified public accountant and author of Effective Budgeting in Continuing Education (1985), Technology Transfer and the University (1990), and Using Financial Information in Continuing Education: Accepted Methods and New Approaches (1997).

To view OC Metro’s “Hot 25” article, please visit: http://digital.ocmetro.com/publication/?m=10213&l=1.

About UC Irvine Extension
As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies via online curriculum as well as through on campus classes. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit http://www.extension.uci.edu or fan the school at http://www.facebook.com/UCIExtension.

About the University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit http://www.today.uci.edu.